Hemigraphis repanda
Dragon's Tongue
Hemigraphis repanda or Dragons Tongue is fine leaved, slow, low growing tropical plant. It's unusual green-purple colouring and delicate stems, added toits tight habit makes it an excellent choice for ground cover or borders where it is protected from cold, or in hanging baskets indoors.
Contributed by @SaraRenee
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Partial shade
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Occasional watering
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Not Frost hardy
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Moist and fertile
Common name
Dragon's Tongue
Latin name
Hemigraphis repanda
type
Perennial
family
Acanthaceae
ph
6.1 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
full grown dimensions
Hemigraphis repanda
Hemigraphis repanda or Dragons Tongue is fine leaved, slow, low growing tropical plant. It's unusual green-purple colouring and delicate stems, added toits tight habit makes it an excellent choice for ground cover or borders where it is protected from cold, or in hanging baskets indoors.
Planting
From Early Spring TO Early Summer
This Hemigraphis enjoys bright but filtered light to grow happily. Some direct early morning eastern or late afternoon western sun will enhance the colour of the leaves. Avoid direct sunlight, especially midday, which can burn the thin leaves. Your plant will adapt to lower light but growth will slow down and be spindly and pale. Use a fast-draining medium and water generously during the active growing period – from spring to early autumn - to keep the plant evenly moist. It is important that you use a porous soil that does not compact because susceptibility to rot is high and chronic over-watering will inevitably kill your plant. A warm location with average to high temperatures – 15.5ºC (60ºF) and above - is ideal. Keep your plant away from cold drafts and drying winds; do not expose to temperatures below 13ºC (55ºF).
Propagation
From Late Spring TO Mid Summer
Propagation is by stem cuttings taken in late spring or summer. Start by taking 3- to 4-inch cuttings from the green (still soft, not woody) part of the plant. Strip off any leaves on the bottom half of the cutting. Dip the cutting into rooting hormone, if you so choose. Stick the cutting into a pot filled with vermiculite. Make sure the pot has excellent drainage.