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 Despite the many species in
Columnea there are relatively few in cultivation. This largely stems
from two factors. One is that some species are
notoriously hard to maintain in cultivation such as C. strigosa.
Many attempts have been made by many well-versed Gesneriad growers only
to see the plant decline and die within a year or two.
This is undoubtedly a function of the specific
environmental factors in this (and other) species' natural habitat, that are
very difficult to meet indoors or even in professionally maintained
greenhouses. Likewise, many species can become much larger than
most growers can accommodate. This is especially
true for species in section Collandra.
Fortunately, a number of
species, especially in section Columnea, are readily adaptable to indoor
conditions. This group also includes many of the most attractive
species, with large, bilabiate,
brightly colored flowers. They also
tend to have slender creeping stems that make them ideal for hanging baskets,
although some have a more branching and spreading habit.
Some of the more widely cultivated species
in section Columnea include
C. hirta,
C. erythrophaea,
C. gloriosa,
C. raymondii, and C. nicaraguensis.
There are also a few
widely grown species outside of section Columnea, such as
C. minor
(section Ortholoma) and C. orientandina (section
 Stygnanthe).
These meet the same criteria as those listed above in section Columnea --
they are highly attractive, reasonably sized and can accommodate to indoor
conditions.
Interspecific hybrids have been made that have traits not found in
individual species in the wild and can sometimes be everblooming.
One of the most widely distributed, easy to grow and
beautiful of these is C. 'Early Bird', introduced in the 1960s.
It has handsome orangey-red and yellow flowers produced in profusion over a
long period. Some other hybrids
include:
C. 'Aladdin's Lamp' - large basket plant with brilliant orange
flowers; C.
'Broget Stavanger' - variegated foliage, large orange flowers, cool
grower; C.
'Maryjane Evans' - manageably compact, spreading foliage, very
floriferous; and C.
'Orange Sherbet' - large trailing basket plant, very floriferous.
A number of intersectional hybrids have been produced, although most of
these are not widely distributed and are often difficult to grow (due to
cultivation requirements or size). However, a few have continuing
popularity.
C. 'Midget', for example, is an extremely floriferous hybrid
involving sections Ortholoma and Columnea, which is also quite compact and
fairly easy to grow.
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