Calceolaria

( kal - see - oh - LAY - ree - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Calceolaria, also called Pocketbook Plant, Slipper Flower, Lady's Purse or Slipperwort, is a large genus of perennial flowers that need regular water. Those sold commercially tend to be varieties that are herbaceous perennial hybrids. Sunlight needs vary by species; check the descriptions below for more information. They are native to Mexico and Chile, and the flowers form in loose clusters in spring and summer. Leaves are generally dark green and crinkly, and flowers are sure to be conversation-starters in the landscape. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as all plant parts are poisonous if ingested.

Calceolaria Species and Varietals

The genus Calceolaria is the type genus member of the plant family Calceolariaceae and includes 388 distinct species. Calceolaria growing zones vary by species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Calceolaria australis (Slipper Flower, Molau)
These shrubs and subshrubs are native to southern Ecuador, and reach between 4 and 20 inches tall at maturity. Flowers are commonly yellow, and do not display as many markings as other species or varietals in the genus. Leaves are lanceolate and green. This species does well when grown in USDA hardiness zones 10 or 11, and can also perform well as an annual in cooler climates.

Calceolaria cana (Salsilla, Zarcilla, Gray Lady's Slipper, Gray Pouch Flower)
These plants are native to central Chile, growing well in USDA hardiness zones 8b-11. They are somewhat hardy plants, able to withstand frost and even short-lived snow cover. This species is also drought-tolerant. Individual plants can reach up to between 18 and 24 inches tall and 15 inches wide when mature and in bloom.

Calceolaria crenata
Reaching up to three and a half feet tall at maturity, this sub-shrub produces beautiful shows of bright yellow flowers. These plants are native to the Andes Mountains in Peru and Ecuador, and have a branching habit. Flowers bloom from spring through summertime in the plant's native range. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11.

Calceolaria crenatiflora (Pocketbook Plant, Poor Man's Orchid, Pouch Flower, Slipperwort)
Native to central and southern Chile as well as southern Argentina, this species is popularly cultivated as a greenhouse ornamental, producing beautiful flowers. These plants prefer partial shade and humidity, making them ideal houseplants. Varieties include 'Anytime' (pictured), with yellow blooms that can have red or brown markings.

Calceolaria x herbeohybrida (Florists Slipperwort)
Grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11 or Sunset growing zones 14-24. Produces masses of velvety flowers that are yellow or red. The flowers are often spotted or marbled. These flowers are usually grown from seed in light porous soil in spring or summer, and are ready for planting in fall. Can reach 2.5 feet tall, but the size will vary. Needs partial or full shade; Taller varieties are cultivated as cut flowers.

Calceolaria integrifolia (Bush Slipperwort)
This species of Pocketbook Plant grows best in zones 14-24 and is a woody variety. Gets 6 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Yellow to reddish-brown flowers that are unspotted bloom in spring and summertime, and are great as additions to flower arrangements. These plants are sometimes mistaken for Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), due to their similar flowers. Variety 'Kentish Hero' has striking orange flowers.

Calceolaria martinezii
This rare species is endemic to Ecuador, where it exists in two populations. It forms a shrub that generally grows in wet tropical biomes, and in many climates will need to be cultivated as a houseplant or greenhouse specimen. They can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-11. Flowers are white to cream-colored and bloom in spring and summer. Individual plants have a rounded habit and can reach to over 2 feet tall when mature and in bloom.

Calceolaria uniflora (Calceolaria darwinii) (Darwin's Slipper, Slipperwort)
This interesting species is native to Tierra del Fuego where it grows in mountainous areas. These plants are low-growers, reaching just 4 inches tall at maturity. Flowers are intricately patterned and eye-catching, a combination of yellow, white, brown, and red. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 7a-9b.

Caring for Calceolaria

Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as all plant parts are poisonous if ingested. Calceolaria plants prefer full sun exposure; they will bloom and perform best when they receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. They can grow in partial sun, but will produce more flowers the more sun they get. In warmer regions, make sure they get late afternoon shade to avoid heat stress and sunburn. They prefer a well-draining soil medium that has a pH of between 5.5 and 6.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. After planting, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of flowers, keeping it an inch or two away from stems. This will help to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and insulate roots from temperature fluctuations.

Water plants regularly after installing to ensure that they develop a strong root system. At maturity, water plants when the top inch or two of soil is dry to the touch. Plants will wilt dramatically when soil is dry, but recover quickly when given water. Pruning Calceolaria plants consists of simply removing any dead or damaged areas at any time during the active growing season. Deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms to emerge and to clean up the look of the plant. Many species of Calceolaria are perennial, though they are typically treated as annuals in temperate zones. After they have finished blooming for the season, they are pulled and composted, replaced in the next spring with new plants.

Harvesting Calceolaria
Calceolaria make handsome cut flowers; taller varieties do well in formal arrangements. Stems should be harvested when the flowers are fully open, as they do not continue to open up once removed from the plant. They are typically in bloom in spring and summertime. The best time of the day to harvest is in the late morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Using clean, sharp shears, make an angled cut at the base of flowering stems and then drop them into a bucket of cool water. Calceolaria, or Pocket Book, flowers have a very short vase life of a few days, but in that time can add whimsy, color, and interest to flower arrangements.

Propagation

Calceolaria flowers can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Slipperwort, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Calceolaria by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 2-3 inch long portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about two to three weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Calceolaria by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Calceolaria plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 8 and 20 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.