Velvet Plant

How to care for Velvet Plant

Light

Gynura aurantiaca requires bright indirect light to maintain its intense purple colouration. Insufficient light causes the purple hairs to fade and the plant to become leggy. A position near an east or west-facing window works well; a few hours of gentle direct morning sun is beneficial, but harsh midday or afternoon sun in summer can scorch the leaves. Supplemental grow lighting works effectively if natural bright light is unavailable.

Watering

Allow the top 2-3 cm of compost to dry out between waterings before applying water thoroughly until it drains from the base. Overwatering is the most common cause of death, leading to root rot. Reduce watering frequency in autumn and winter when growth slows. Crucially, water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the foliage, as moisture sitting on the velvety leaves can cause rotting and unsightly marks.

Soil and potting

Use a free-draining, peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with around 20-30% perlite or coarse horticultural grit to ensure good drainage and aeration. Gynura aurantiaca does not tolerate waterlogged conditions and will decline rapidly in compacted or heavy media. A slightly acidic to neutral pH of around 6.0-7.0 is suitable.

Feeding

During the active growing season from spring through to late summer, feed every two to four weeks with a balanced, diluted liquid fertiliser at half the manufacturer's recommended strength. A formulation with a relatively higher nitrogen content supports the lush foliage growth. Cease feeding in autumn and winter when the plant is not actively growing, as excess fertiliser can accumulate in the compost and damage the roots.

Humidity and temperature

This plant prefers moderate humidity levels of around 40-60%. Although it tolerates average household humidity, very dry air can cause leaf edge browning. Do not mist the foliage, as moisture trapped among the dense hairs promotes fungal disease and rot; instead, use a pebble tray with water or a room humidifier nearby. Maintain temperatures between 15 and 25 C; the plant will tolerate a minimum of around 13 C but is not frost hardy and must not be exposed to cold draughts or sudden temperature drops.

Repotting

Repot in spring when the plant has become root-bound, typically every one to two years for younger plants. Move up one pot size at a time using fresh, free-draining compost. Gynura aurantiaca has a relatively shallow root system, so wide, shallow pots are preferable to deep ones. Take care not to compact the compost too firmly, and water sparingly for a week or two after repotting to allow the roots to settle.

Pruning

Regular pruning is important for keeping Gynura aurantiaca compact and bushy, as it tends to become leggy with age. Pinch out the growing tips frequently throughout the growing season to encourage branching and denser foliage. When flower buds appear, it is advisable to remove them promptly, as the small orange flowers emit an unpleasant odour and divert energy from the foliage. Older, woody stems can be cut back hard in spring to rejuvenate the plant.

Is Velvet Plant toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Stem cuttings in water

Take 8-12 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or summer, remove the lower leaves, and place the cut end in a glass of room-temperature water in a bright, warm spot. Roots typically develop within two to three weeks, at which point the cutting can be potted into compost.

Stem cuttings in compost

Insert 8-12 cm stem tip cuttings directly into moist, peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with perlite. Keep the compost barely moist and place in a warm location with bright indirect light; rooting usually occurs within three to four weeks.

Where Velvet Plant comes from

Native to Java, Indonesia.

Story and origins

The genus name Gynura is derived from the Greek words 'gyne' meaning woman or female, and 'oura' meaning tail, referring to the elongated female stigmas characteristic of the flower. The species epithet aurantiaca comes from the Latin 'aurantiacus', meaning orange-coloured, a reference to the vivid orange or orange-yellow flowers rather than to the purple foliage for which the plant is best known in cultivation.

Gynura aurantiaca was first formally described by the Dutch botanist Carl Ludwig Blume in the early nineteenth century from specimens collected on the island of Java, Indonesia, where it grows naturally in tropical forest margins and disturbed habitats. It was introduced to European horticulture during the Victorian era, when the fashion for bold, ornamental foliage plants was at its height, and it was displayed in the heated glasshouses of botanical gardens and wealthy estates. It gained broader popularity as a houseplant during the mid to late twentieth century when centrally heated homes made it more practical to keep tropical foliage plants year-round.

Varieties to know

Gynura aurantiaca 'Purple Passion'

The most widely available cultivar, with particularly vivid violet-purple hairs and a more trailing habit, making it well suited to hanging baskets.

Gynura procumbens

A closely related species sometimes sold alongside aurantiaca; it has less pronounced purple hairs and is grown in parts of Asia for its purported medicinal properties.

Fun facts

• The small orange flowers, while visually similar to those of other Asteraceae members, produce a strong and widely described unpleasant smell, which is why most growers remove the buds as soon as they appear.
• The vivid purple colouration of the leaf hairs is caused by anthocyanin pigments, the same class of compounds responsible for purple coloration in red cabbage and blueberries.
• Gynura aurantiaca is a relatively short-lived perennial indoors, typically declining in vigour after two to three years, which is why growers commonly propagate fresh plants from cuttings to maintain a healthy stock.
• The genus Gynura contains around 40 species distributed across tropical Africa and Asia, several of which are used in traditional medicine in their native regions.
• Despite its preference for bright conditions, direct harsh sunlight can bleach and damage the purple hairs, reducing the very feature for which the plant is prized.

Velvet Plant FAQ