Gynura aurantiaca, the velvet plant

With its purple leaves and yellow flowers, Gynura aurantiaca looks like wallpaper from the 70s. But the velvet plant doesn't come straight out of a Volkswagen van. It comes to us from Indonesia and belongs to the Asteraceae family.

How to recognize the velvet plant, Gynura aurantiaca?

Gynura aurantiaca is a perennial plant. Its stems grow to a height of 30 centimetres before dropping back. Its creeping branches can reach two meters in length. The velvet plant can be grown hanging or climbing on a stake.

A fine purple down covers the thick stems. Supple, they become rigid and sarmentose as they age.

The foliage is also bristly. When the leaves are born, the down is so dense that it looks like the entire leaf blade is purple. But as the leaf grows, it reveals its metallic green color. Lobed and elliptical, the leaf blades measure up to fifteen centimetres long. They are larger and less serrated than those of Gynura aurantiaca 'Purple Passion'.

Flower heads bloom in late spring. Orange, they grow at the top of a stem covered with purple hairs. Their strong fragrance is not to everyone's taste.

The inflorescence transforms into an egret, like a dandelion. White threads carry the seeds, which are spread by the wind. This system enables the plant to multiply rapidly. So much so that the species is considered invasive in Australia, Florida and parts of Africa and South America.

But odor and propagation are not the only drawbacks of the velvet plant. Gynura aurantiaca is toxic to both humans and animals.

Our maintenance tips

Over time gynura aurantiaca loses its color and its stems wither. To keep your plant compact and bright, cut your specimen and pinch off the ends of its branches.

Watering

To find out if your plant is thirsty, stick your finger in the soil. When the surface is dry (about three centimetres), then you need to water your Gynura aurantiaca. Gynura aurantiaca like moisture, but not stagnant water. Make sure that the potting soil remains moist, but that the rootlets are not drowned.

If you can, use non-calcareous water such as rainwater or filtered water.

Also make sure that water doesn't stagnate in the saucer or planter.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Gynura aurantiaca to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Pour a bed of clay balls or gravel into a pierced pot.

Add a layer of potting soil for green plants. Plant your Velvet plant in the center and fill the pot with substrate. Tamp the soil to remove air bubbles.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Fertilize your Velvet plant with a green plant fertilizer to support growth. Remember to halve the dose prescribed by the manufacturer.

Prune

The flower smells bad and is exhausting the plant. Cut off the flowering stem as soon as it appears to prevent further flowering. You can use clean secateurs or pinch the stem with your fingers.

Pinch

Pinch your Gynura aurantiaca during its growing season.

To keep your Gynura aurantiaca compact, pinch a bud. You'll create new branches.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Using your pre-cleaned scissors, remove a ten- to fifteen-centimeter stem (about three nodes). Remove the leaf at the base of your cutting.

Pour a mixture of potting soil and sand into a pot whose hole has been plugged with a pebble. Push half the stem of your cutting into the center without watering.

Place the pot in a mini greenhouse; if you don't have one, you can cover the plant with a translucent bag or a cut bottle. Place your graft in a bright spot, without direct sunlight.

Every day, aerate for a few minutes to drain off condensation and mist.

Diseases / Threats

Aphids

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Asteraceae - Asteraceae
Type	Gynure - Gynura
Species	Velvet plant - Gynura aurantiaca
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Climber Interior Herbaceous Flowery Hanging plants
Tags	Flowery Fritillary Toxic
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	10b
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color