Pavonia (Pavonia multiflora), Brazilian candelabrum: cultivation, maintenance
pavonia (Pavonia multiflora syn. Triplochlamys multiflora), called Brazilian candelabrum, is a sparsely branched shrub native to Brazil, which does not support the cold: it needs at least 15°C to develop knowing that it will not start again from its base after a frost -1° vs.
It is called Brazilian candelabrum because of its origins but also because of its upright, stiff, little branched stems that give it the silhouette of a candelabra. It has evergreen, pointed, elliptical, lanceolate leaves, 10 to 15cm long, dark green, which are straight but tend to hang under water stress.
It is its bright red flowers that make everyone happy Pavonia multiflora hanging on the leaves. They bloom from spring to autumn. Measuring 3cm long, the erect dark purple flowers with protruding dark blue stamens are surrounded by red or dark pink filamentous bracts. When they open, the flowers measure about 6cm across and attract pollinating insects.
Fruiting produces small rounded hairy capsules each containing a seed.
Hardly can be grown outdoors in our latitudes, this pavonia can join indoor flowering plants, in sufficiently large habitats.
- Family: Malvaceae
- Type: evergreen flowering shrub
- Origin: Brazil
- Color: red flower
- Sowing: no
- Cutting: yes
- Planting: spring
- Flowering: May to October
- Height: 1.2 to 2.5 m
Ideal soil and exposure for multiflora pavonia
Pavonia multiflora growing in a very bright situation (without direct burning sun) that offers good humidity, in a substrate of compost and loam to which you add a little perlite or sand. The pot will be placed in a saucer lined with gravel or clay balls.
Outdoors, it needs humus-rich, fertile and well-drained soil, but its coldness makes it difficult to grow it in the garden in France, because below 14 or 15°C, it stops growing.
Date of cuttings, planting and repotting of Pavonia multiflora
Propagation is done by cuttings of semi-woody stems in summer, covered, with bottom heat (20°C minimum) and high humidity: success remains delicate.
Planting is usually planned in the spring, but it can also be done in the fall.
When the shrub seems cramped in its pot, repotting is necessary, which should be done at the end of winter.
Pavonia multiflora conservation and culture council
The soil must always be kept cool, otherwise its leaves will wither: regular watering is essential, without excessive watering, which can suffocate the roots. In addition, daily spraying of the leaves with non-calcareous water may be necessary to compensate for the lack of humidity in the air, especially in winter with heating that makes the environment too dry.
Pruning is not necessary unless it is a question of controlling its excessive growth.
in summer, Pavonia multiflora can be taken out on the terrace or in the garden, remember to bring it inside before the cold weather, indoors, in a veranda or greenhouse.
Diseases, pests and parasites of Pavonia multiflora
Pavonia multiflora sometimes attacked by scale insect or spider mite when the air humidity is not enough.
Location and desirable association of Pavonia multiflora
It is a plant grown as an indoor flowering plant to be installed, if possible, in a bathroom where hygrometry is the most important, provided there is a good sunny opening.
Pavonia species and varieties are recommended for planting in the garden
genre pavonia owes its name to the tribute paid to the Spanish botanist, José Antonio Pavón y Jiménez (1754-1840) who made many missions to Peru and Chile to work on the flora. Around 150 species of the genus are listed with it Pavonia multiflora is probably the only one available in France.
Pavonia multiflora is often confused with Pavonia × gledhillii but they are two different plants: in fact, the second comes from a cross between Pavonia makoyana and Pavonia multiflora.
