Medinilla myriantha

Medinilla (Medinilla myriantha) is grown for one thing: long pink flower panicles that hang below the foliage like bunches of grapes, then set into rose coloured berries. It makes a rounded shrub about 1.2m tall and 1m wide, with broad ribbed leaves that look good even out of flower. It wants filtered light and warmth, so a shaded courtyard or a bright room suits it.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers that hang rather than sit. Pink panicles drop below the leaves on arching stems and hold for weeks through the warmer months, followed by berries.
• Compact enough for a courtyard. At 1.2m by 1m it stays inside a large pot, on a balcony or under a tree without taking over a bed.
• It wants the shade you already have. Filtered light is what it asks for, so a covered patio or a well lit interior corner suits it.
• Humidity is an asset here. Tropical and subtropical humidity that troubles other flowering shrubs is exactly what this one wants.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. The roots are shallow and fine, so a wide 300mm to 400mm pot with an open bark based mix beats a deep narrow one.

Indoors. Bright filtered light out of direct sun. Group it with other plants or stand the pot on damp pebbles to hold humidity.

Balconies and courtyards. Shelter it from wind and hot afternoon sun. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can also go into a protected bed under canopy.

Growing Medinilla in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered light only, since direct midday sun scorches the leaves. Outdoors this is a plant for tropical and subtropical gardens. It is frost tender and any frost damages it, so in warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens keep it potted and bring it under cover for winter.

Soil. Open and free draining with plenty of organic matter. An orchid or premium indoor mix with added bark suits it far better than a heavy potting mix, and it must never sit in water.

Water and feed. Keep the mix evenly moist through spring and summer, letting the top few centimetres dry between waterings, then ease off over winter. Liquid feed every three to four weeks while it is in growth.

Pruning. Trim spent flower stems back to a leaf pair once the berries drop, and shorten leggy stems in early spring to keep it bushy.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as 125mm plants in packs of ten, 180mm and 200mm in packs of six, or as a single established plant in a 300mm pot. The smaller sizes suit filling several pots if you can wait a season. A 300mm plant is close to flowering size and can go straight into a decorative pot.

The leaves are broad and soft, so a marked or creased leaf after transit is normal and grows out. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a quiet fortnight, then new growth. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the indoor flowering plants range.
• Companions: tropical plants.
• Our guide to indoor exotic plants covers light and humidity.
• Read how to keep your indoor plants alive.

Common questions

Will it flower indoors?

Yes, given bright filtered light and reasonable humidity. A dim corner gives you healthy foliage and no flowers, so move it nearer a window.

Can I grow it outdoors in a cooler garden?

Only in a pot you can move. It is frost tender and built for tropical and subtropical conditions, so in a cold winter climate it needs to come inside.

Why are the leaf edges browning?

Usually dry air, direct sun or a build up of salts in the mix. Move it out of harsh light, raise the humidity, and flush the pot through with plain water every few months.

How big does it get?

About 1.2m tall and 1m across in the ground in a warm climate. In a pot it usually settles a little smaller.