Koleria: species found in nature, breeding varieties, rules for the care of the Colombian beauty

Koleria is an exotic beauty, whose homeland is hot Colombia. Among the main advantages of the plant is a beautiful, long and plentiful flowering. The leaves of the coloration have a pleasant emerald shade, their edges are serrate and pubescent. The flower will revive and decorate any interior, while requiring minimal care.

Let's find out the features of different varieties of colors and consider how to properly care for this beautiful plant at home.

Colombian Beauty: A Detailed Botanical Description

Koleria is a herbaceous perennial plant, the length of which does not exceed 60 cm. With long-term cultivation, the stems sink to the ground and lie down. A feature of the flower is flakes on the rhizome (rhizomes). Colery bushes look velvet due to pubescent leaves and stems.. The color of the leaves varies: from all shades of green in natural species to silver and bronze in hybrids.

What are the features of the origin and distribution of color?

Homeland is South and Central America (Colombia, Ecuador, the island of Trinidad).
Origin. The flower was discovered by the Swiss scientist Kohler in the 19th century. The plant is named after him.
Spread. Natural habitats are tropical zones of South and Central America, the islands of Colombia. It grows in the tropics, on mountain slopes, in the shade of trees, on rocky soil. It tolerates temperature fluctuations by 5-10 degrees.
Which family does it belong to? Koleria belongs to the Gesnerievs.

The inflorescences of the plant are large, in shape resemble a bell. The brightness of the color depends on the variety (pink, scarlet, with contrasting dots).

Flowering period - from early June to the first frost. Some varieties bloom year round. During flowering, axillary peduncles appear on the bush, which form 2-4 flowers. In the inflorescence there is a tube and an opened pharynx.

Natural species: a brief description

In total, there are about 65 species that are found in nature. Only a small part of natural species is suitable for home growing. Varieties bred by breeders are much larger. Among flower growers, the following natural plant species are popular.

Fluffy. The height of the bush is 40-50 cm. The leaves are large, saturated green, slightly reddish to the edges. Inflorescences have bright orange or red hues; yellow or white specks are present on the lower limb.
Dwarf. The natural habitat is the mountainsides of Ecuador. The bush does not exceed 25 cm. The stem is straight, covered with soft villi, no branching.
Leaves are elongated and narrow. The color of the foliage is peculiar: from below it is pink, from above - a pale green plate. Silvery or light strips appear along the veins on the sheet. Inflorescences are small (2-3 cm), the shade is yellow, lilac-white with brown dots.
Large. The height of the bushes reaches 70 cm. In nature, grows on rocky soil in the forests of Colombia. Features - jagged dark green foliage, white or red edge. The flower is fleecy outside, its color is red. Inside it is yellow, with dots or strokes of orange. Large flowers bloom throughout the summer.
Pleasant. The homeland of the subspecies is Colombian mountain slopes. Feature - large and wide leaves. The bottom plate of the sheet is pale green, the top is 1 tone darker. On the sheet there are lines of a brick or whitish hue. The stem is green or red, covered with white pile. Inflorescences are small pink or raspberry hue.

Breeding varieties

The species richness of the colony is due to the presence of many hybrid varieties. Another result of interspecific crossing is a variety of shades of inflorescences. In the catalogs of flower shops you can find the names of varieties with such unusual shades as golden, burgundy, light purple, cherry and green.

A unique and unusual hybrid - Peridot's Rolo. Feature - the bush grows in the form of a volumetric cap. Other breeding varieties eventually grow fleshy and large stems. The size of the inflorescences varies depending on the variety: large flowers in the Karl Lindberg, Magnifik, Red Ryder colors, and small flowers are characteristic of Ganymede and Maki.

Features of specific breeding varieties:

Flashdance - miniature size and bright appearance. The flowers have a saturated coral color, and the tube inside is yellow.
Queen victoria. The inflorescence resembles a red tube. The outer petals are pink and the inner ones are white. The inflorescence is decorated with a pinkish border and beetroot specks.
Bibbi. The difference is large scarlet flowers and white petals. Inflorescences are also decorated with cherry dots and yellow pharynx. The leaves are heavily pubescent, the color is calm green.
Koleria Varshevich. Feature - colorful flowers of a scarlet shade, salad tube and petals. The flower is decorated with cherry blotches.

Read more about the popular varieties of regular and undersized colors, as well as the rules for caring for them, read in our material.

Features of flower care

Koleria is unpretentious in leaving and does not demand special conditions of detention. A plant likes adequate lighting - it is recommended to put bushes in the western or eastern part of the room. At the same time, direct sunlight is forbidden on the flower.

Koleria prefers high temperature: in summer, the optimal indicator is 30 degrees, in winter - not lower than 17. Drafts for the plant are fatal.

The main requirement for watering is moderation. Excess moisture in the soil will provoke various diseases and fungal infections.. It is advisable to water the bushes with warm and soft water once a week. The humidity level in the room is 50-55%.

It is not recommended to spray the bush, since droplets of moisture remain on the pubescent leaves (cause rotting processes). It is preferable to install a special humidifier in the room or to put a wet stone near the bush.

With the onset of cold weather, some varieties begin to winter. At this time, their leaves fade and turn yellow - this is a natural process. The grower needs to cut the bush to the root, rearrange the pot in a dark place and moisten the soil once a month to maintain the life of the root system. With the right approach, the Colombian beauty will begin to come to life near the end of winter.

During the period of active vegetation, the plant requires top dressing. In summer, it is allowed to introduce minerals into the soil, in winter - live soil with biohumus. You need to feed before the formation of buds.

Pruning and bush formation is carried out before the start of the growing season. As the pot is filled with the root system, you must transplant the colium - to pass the earthen lump into a large container, fill the missing places with fresh soil mixture.

Find out more about home care at home here.

Will it suit a beginner?

Growing colors is a fairly simple process that does not require special knowledge or skills. The plant is distinguished by an undemanding nature and lack of enhanced care.

Even a novice grower can grow a luxurious bush. To start this flower is recommended to all lovers of the home of lush flora. A miniature bell will enliven any interior, and pleasant colors will enhance your mood.

So, koleriya is a unique flower distinguished by pubescent leaves and bright inflorescences. The birthplace of an exotic beauty is America. Natural growth conditions are tropical sites or hillsides. When caring for a home flower, it is important not to overdo it with watering and top dressing.