Achimenes 
If you know anything in the bulbous plant field more lovely and appealing than 
a pot-full of Achimenes ‘“‘Little Beauty”? in full bloom, we would like to know it. 
The Achimenes are relatives of the Gloxinia’ (Gesneraceae), of easy culture, and 
one of the most attractive pot and porch box subjects known. They were popular 
many years ago and now they’ are neglected beyond all excuse. 
The tubercles are planted in late winter and spring, several little catkin-like 
tubers (about the size of a vitamin capsule) in a six-inch pot or gallon can, with 
good drainage and a sandy leaf-mold acid soil, having some well rotted manure 
added. Water sparingly until they are growing well, and keep in warmth and shade, 
but give plenty of light. 
In'midsummer and early fall they will provide an abundance of highly decorative 
pansy-like flowers in various colors from pure white to pink, rose, red, blue and 
royal purple. They are one of the best summer pot plant subjects and are due for 
a new great increase in popularity as soon as the American florists trade discovers 
them again. 
The common Achimenes is a hairy herb, botanically, growing about a foot tall, 
and the flowers range from less than an inch in diameter in some sorts to nearly 
three inches across the face in the largest. In some varieties the flowers are like a 
pansy or petunia. The colors are clear and fine, and the varieties are floriferous 
under good care. They are having an increasing vogue in the lower South where 
they have even naturalized in old gardens. The plants go dormant in late fall, and 
are dried off by growers at that time until spring. Tubercles are available from 
January through April. 
Varieties available: 
Achimenes Longiflora var. major, “‘Magnificum,” the largest flowered type, 
handsome deep blue with light center, striking and tall growing, an aristocrat of 
plants, 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Mauve Queen, one of Sutton’s varieties, a lovely lavender-rose, late flowering, 
10c each, 75c per doz. 
Margarita, pure white, rather delicate, but very pretty, 50c each. 
Pink Beauty, a nice rosy-pink, fading to lavender, 25c each. 
Dainty Queen, one of the best, pure white with large flowers, and an attractive 
slight, lavender center, just a dot; 15c each, $1.50 per doz. 
A. longiflora Denningi (Mexicana) known as ‘‘Blue Beauty,’’ and “Galatea,” 
the medium size, floriferous and invaluable Achimenes, most popular variety, found 
on porches all around the Gulf Coast, best and easiest to grow. 10c each, $1.00 per 
doz. 
A. Royal Purple, another stand-by of the Achimenes, rich purple, with a glisten- 
ing sheen, floriferous and sturdy, handsome dark foliage, never fails. Early flowering. 
15c each, $1.50 per doz. 
A. grandiflora, tall, bronzy-green leaved variety, erect, heavy foliage, reddish- 
brown ‘stems, and quite distinct from other Achimenes, with rosy-lavender flowers, 
medium size, having white throat. Makes a handsome pot plant when well grown. 
Twelve to 16 inches tall under good culture. Tubercles resemble long worms. 25c¢c 
each, $2.50 per doz. 
A. pulchella, bright scarlet half-inch flowers, late, 25c each. 
A. “Little Beauty,’’ a lovely Holland hybrid, salmon rose-pink in color, flori- 
ferous, with dark reddish foliage, dark brown stems. Eight to 12 inches tall. Medi- 
um late in season. This will be a coming item of note. 50c each, $5.00 per doz. 
A. “Smoky Red,” “Milky Way,’ (light blue) , Verschaffeltii, Loveliness (small- 
flowered late lavender) and A. Longiflora Maduna, a coarse heavy plant with flowers 
like grandiflora, all these varieties in small supply, 25c each as available. 
