CALCEOLARIA ( Calceola’ria ) .
Mostly tender perennials of herbaceous or shrubby growth , principally natives of Chile and Peru , and belonging to the Snapdragon family , Scrophulariaceae . Calceolarias vary in height from 6 in . to 3 ft . The flowers are slipper - corresponding and are mostly yellowed in color , with the exception of those of the herbaceous Calceolarias , which expose a panoptic range of color . The flowers of the different kinds also depart in size , those of some averaging 2 in . in diam , while others are not more than 1/2 in . across . The name , Calceolaria , is infer from calceolus , a slipper , and alludes to the carpet slipper - form flower .
Calceolarias are separate into two clear-cut group , consist of herbaceous , or soft - stemmed kinds , and shrubby kinds . Of the herbaceous form the most popular are those large - flowered greenhouse works which bear bright colored blooms in April - May ; they were originated by crossbreeding between C. corymbosa and C. crenatiflora . By uninterrupted selection a magnificent race of plant has been obtained : these grow immense flush of varied coloring include rose , apricot , terra cotta , yellow and dark-brown . Some are ego - colored , while others are slop with harmonizing or contrast colors . These Calceolarias are raise from seeds sow each year in early summer and are develop in pots in the greenhouse for natural spring and early summer palm .
The shrubby kinds , particularly the icteric flower C. integrifolia , pop in Europe for bedding out in summer , may also be raise from seeds , though they are generally propagated by cuttings .
As Greenhouse Plants . Both herbaceous Calceolarias and shrubby calceolarias are grow in greenhouses . The former are most popular and gentle to manage , being cover as annual . They have had many dissimilar epithet include C. hybrida , C. herbacea and C. herbeohybrida . Botanically they are regarded as forms of C. crenatiflora and C. arachnoidea . Their lady’s - slipper flowers are very colorful . This type is compara tively easy to rise provided it is give a nerveless , airy surround and a minimum temperature of 45 - 50 degrees .
Seeds of herbaceous Calceolarias may be sown from April to September . From the early sowings , plant may be grown to finish in 9or 10 - in . pot and will , while in blossom , measure as much as 2 - 2 1/2 ft . high and will circularise as far when stake out . A good - sized plant in a 5to 6 - in . pot may be raise from a sowing made about August the first . Sow the seeds on a screen mixture of two parts garden loam , one part peat moss and one part guts . compact the grunge mixture in the container somewhat business firm , provide a level surface . Soak the filth before seeding and sow as soon as the muddy status has gone . dot the seminal fluid thinly and as equally as potential over the dirt surface . They are very petite so no attempt should be made to cross them with soil ; but a sail of Methedrine over the container , and it covered with a piece of newspaper , will run to keep up wet . change state the glass daily to remove excessive moisture . Should the soil surface , for any reason , begin to dry out , place the container in a washstand of H2O and allow the wet to soak up from below .
When the seeds show signs of germinating remove the newspaper and place the container where there is restrained lighting , but ward off direct sunlight . prove the plane of glass so that air travel may reach the seedlings and in 2 or 3 Day the glass may be removed . collateral sunlight and moisture in the soil are all the seedlings need until they can be transplanted , which will be when two yoke of leave of absence have form . Space them 2 - 3 column inch apart in a ground mixture that is two part sandlike loam and one part hoummos . In 5 - 6 weeks they will be ready for potting singly into 3 - in . pots , using like stain . A shaded inhuman frame or shaded and airy nursery is good for them until October 15 ( in the neighborhood of New York City ) after which they will hold out full sunlight throughout the wintertime month . As presently as the roots show signs of form a meshing around the clod of soil , a second or net potting should be made in stain that is well drained and full-bodied in humus , and that has a 4 - in . sight of 5 - 10 - 5 fertiliser ( see Fertilizers ) added to each bushel . Final potting should be done by early November ; and after the New Year , when roots become plentiful , a complete plant food , in very weak solution , may be applied once a week until the flowers show colour .
Plants with lumbering flower heads expect funding by thin bamboo or conducting wire stakes that are concealed by the foliage .
Annual Kinds . Although usually grown as greenhouse annuals or biennials the herbaceous Calceolarias observe above are truly perennial . There are , in addition , some wizardly annual Calceolarias .
Most popular of these are C. mexicana and C. scabiosaefolia . The former is a indigen of Mexico , the latter of Chile and Ecuador . Both are very easily cultivated in a cool greenhouse or out of door in summer . Seeds sow in at any time of the year give plants that blooming in 35 months . They thrive in fertile , porous soil restrain reasonably moist and need nuance from unattackable fair weather . C. mexicana grows to a tallness of about 1 ft . , C. scabiosaefolia to a height of about 2 ft . Both form treat shaggy specimens that flower over a farseeing menses . Their flowers are pallid jaundiced and about 1/2 in . in diam . In greenhouses these Calceolarias self - sow freely , and it is plebeian for military volunteer seedling to spring up under the benches , in gravel or clinker on the bench , and in like locations .
Shrubby Calceolarias grown in greenhouses are nominate C. Stewartii ( jaundiced bloom ) and C. Medfordii ( maroon blossom ) . There is also a pink - flowered form , probably a seedling from C. Medfordii . This grouping , which has been given the name C. fruticohybrida , was derive from the crossway of several mintage . The method acting of propagation of these shrubby types is to settle down cuttings taken from the novel increment which starts before long after the heyday head are cut off . This will be from June to August provided the quondam or stock plants have been kept in spectre , and hold on moderately moist at their roots . These stem cuttings root readily in gumption in a moist atmosphere where there is tint . After roots take shape , the method acting of culture is the same as for the herbaceous type of Calceolaria . A 6 - in . pot , as a final potting size , makes planning for a fine-looking plant .
Calceolarias for the Rock Garden . These are of midget , tufted habit and thrive in England in semishady position in the rock garden . They may be utilitarian in curtail expanse of the United States where winters are mild and summer nerveless .
They require a well - drain spirited soil and are propagated by division of the roots in spring or by seeds sow in mass of soil place in a frame in June to provide plants that will bloom the following yr . The principal kinds are : C. biflora ( plantaginea ) , 12 in . yellow ; C. Darwinii , large sensationalistic flower descry with chestnut - red , 4 in . ; C. polyrrhiza , 9 in . , little yellow flowers with browned spots ; C. John Innes , 6 in . , large golden - chickenhearted flush , all blooming in June — July .
