Hot lips.

At a glance

Care level

Difficult

Plant type

Tropical shrub

Light

Bright indirect light

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

3 to 4 meters

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 10 to 12

Bloom time

Winter to spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy, as this plant loves high humidity. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the humidity is too low or the soil is drying out too much. It really needs a stable, warm environment to keep those iconic bracts looking their best.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist to mimic its native rainforest floor habitat.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back leggy stems twice a year to encourage a bushier shape.

Repotting

Repot every one to two years when the roots begin to crowd the container.

Soil

Rich, well-draining, acidic soil

Soil pH

5.5 to 6.5

Temperature

15 to 30°C

Humidity

70 to 95%

Drought tolerance

Low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years in ideal conditions.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

All parts of this plant are toxic if consumed.

Pets

This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep this plant away from small children as the attractive red bracts and berries might encourage ingestion.

Contact allergens

The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

There are no known significant airborne allergens associated with this plant.

Edibility

The plant is not considered edible and may cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested.

How to identify it

• Bright red bracts resembling lips
• Small white flowers inside bracts
• Opposite, dark green elliptical leaves
• Shrubby growth habit
• Produces small dark blue berries

Height

1.5 to 3m

Spread

1 to 2m

Leaves

dark green, evergreen

Flowers

white, yellow, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

dark blue, black, Summer

Problems to watch for

• MealybugsCommon
• Root RotCommon
• Brown Leaf EdgesUncommon
• Fungus GnatsUncommon
• Spider MitesUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, seed

When to plant

spring, summer

Overwintering

Move to a frost free location if temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Maintain high humidity throughout the winter months.

In containers

It can be grown in a large container with excellent drainage, but requires very high humidity to thrive.

Group this plant with other tropical species that thrive in high humidity to create a microclimate.

Grows well with

• Bromeliad · They share similar requirements for high humidity and filtered light.
• Bird of Paradise · They provide a striking tropical aesthetic when planted together.

Similar species

• Firebush · Both are tropical shrubs that attract hummingbirds.

Science

Family

Rubiaceae

Genus

Palicourea

Order

Gentianales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Central and South American tropical rainforests.

Conservation

It is not currently listed as endangered, but habitat loss in its native cloud forests remains a concern.

It grows in the shaded, humid understory of cloud forests where it relies on hummingbirds for pollination.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, bird food

Pollinators

butterflies, hummingbirds

Uses

ornamental, tropical garden focal point

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?

No, it prefers bright, indirect light or dappled shade.

Can I grow it indoors?

It is difficult to maintain the necessary high humidity indoors without a greenhouse.

Where the name comes from

The name elata means tall or elevated, referring to its stature in the forest understory.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as Hooker's Lips or Hot Lips plant.
• The red structures are bracts, not petals.
• It thrives in the high humidity of tropical cloud forests.
• The small flowers are hidden between the red lips.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs