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Sanchezia spp.
sanchezia
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Native to North America
Overview
Sanchezia spp. is a genus of about 50 to 60 species of evergreen shrubs and subshrubs in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical Central and South America, including the Andes and the Amazon basin. The genus is grown chiefly for foliage, the most familiar being S. speciosa, an upright shrub 3-6 ft (1-1.8 m) tall with large, glossy, lance-shaped leaves to 12 in (30 cm) long marked by bold yellow or cream veins against deep green. The stems are stout, four-angled, and often flushed red. Tubular flowers about 1.5-2 in (4-5 cm) long are carried in upright spikes and are yellow to orange, set within showy red or orange bracts. In cultivation the flowers appear mainly in warm months, though plants are kept primarily for the veined leaves. Sanchezia spp. grows in warm, humid, frost-free conditions and is limited outdoors to USDA zones 10-11; below about 40F (4C) the foliage is damaged. In cooler regions it is grown as a container or greenhouse plant and as summer bedding. Plants can become leggy with age and need bright light to keep the leaf markings strong.
Native Range
Sanchezia spp. is native to the tropics of Central and South America, with species ranging from southern Mexico and Central America through the northern Andes and into the western Amazon. Plants grow in warm, humid forest understories, along stream banks, and in clearings at low to middle elevations.Suggested Uses
Sanchezia spp. is grown as a foliage shrub in tropical and subtropical gardens, as a container and houseplant, and as summer foliage bedding in cooler climates. The veined leaves are used for contrast in mixed tropical plantings and borders. In frost-free regions it is planted as an informal screen or hedge.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Bloom Information
In warm, frost-free climates Sanchezia spp. flowers mainly from late spring through summer, the tubular blooms opening in upright terminal spikes. Under glass or in cooler regions, flowering is irregular and many plants bloom little, grown instead for the veined foliage. The colored bracts persist after the flowers fade.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow to orange with red bractsFoliage Description
green with yellow or cream veinsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Sanchezia spp. in bright, filtered light to partial shade in moist, fertile, well-drained soil kept evenly damp through the growing season. Plants need warmth and humidity and are damaged below about 40F (4C), so outdoors they suit only USDA zones 10-11. In containers, a rich potting mix, regular summer feeding, and high humidity prevent leaf-edge browning. Strong but indirect light holds the yellow veining bright, while deep shade fades it and stretches the stems. Pinching the growing tips limits legginess and holds a bushy shape. Spider mites, scale, and whiteflies are the main pests under glass.Pruning
Cut Sanchezia spp. back hard in late winter or early spring to renew leggy plants and force dense, well-marked new growth. Pinching the shoot tips through the growing season keeps the shrub compact and bushy. Old, bare stems are removed at the base to make room for fresh canes.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons