Medinilla
Medinilla magnifica · the Rose Grape
It lives high in the Philippine rainforest canopy, perched in the forks of big trees as an epiphyte. Once a year it drops long pink chandeliers of flowers, each cluster of coral-red blooms cradled in big papery pink bracts, hanging like bunches of grapes.
Family
Melastomataceae
Origin
Philippines
In the wild
An epiphyte in tree forks
Indoors
0.3–1 m
Growth
Slow
With pets
No data
Where it's from
The Philippines
A canopy plant
It roots in pockets of leaf-litter in the forks of large trees, not on the forest floor.
A narrow endemic
Found only in the Philippines, recorded from the islands of Luzon, Mindoro and Panay.
Outdoors: zones 10–12
Tender. Frost kills it, so almost everywhere it lives under glass or indoors.
A plant on a banknote
King Baudouin of Belgium grew Medinilla magnifica in the royal conservatories, and the plant was printed on the 10,000 Belgian-franc banknote. It is one of the very few houseplants to ever appear on a country's currency, all for the sake of one long pink flower display.
The flower is the whole point
Long pendent panicles of pink and coral flowers, cupped by large papery pink bracts.
Not an orchid
Trade names like Philippine Orchid mislead. It belongs to the melastome family.
A slow grower
It takes years to reach size and flowers better when left slightly pot-bound and undisturbed.
How to keep it
LightBright, filtered
Bright indirect light, with shade from hot afternoon sun. Too little light and it will not flower.
WaterEvenly moist in growth
Keep the mix moist but never soggy in active growth. Water sparingly in winter.
HumidityHighThe make-or-break factor. Stand the pot on a tray of moist gravel. Dry winter air is the classic killer.
TemperatureMin 15°CWants steady warmth. It resents cold drafts and sudden swings.
SoilOpen, well-drained mixIts epiphytic roots want air. Acid to neutral, moist but free-draining.
FeedingMonthly in growthA balanced liquid feed roughly monthly in the growing season. Ease off in winter.
DifficultyModerate to hardIt performs better under glass than in a room. Many people treat it as a temporary gift bloom.
With petsNo dataNot listed by the ASPCA in either the toxic or non-toxic list, so its status is unknown rather than cleared. Discourage chewing.
PropagationCuttings, with warmthSoftwood cuttings in spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer. They want bottom heat and humidity, not a water glass.
RepottingEvery couple of yearsOnly when rootbound. It flowers better slightly pot-bound and dislikes disturbance.
What the data says
What it costs
Mid-priced for a flowering houseplant, sold mainly through specialists rather than grocery stores.
$25–40
Named selections like 'Royal Intenz' run higher, around $60, but there is no collector-rarity bubble here.
IUCN · Not assessed
In the wild
Famous on windowsills, quietly squeezed in its home islands.
Medinilla magnifica has not been assessed on the IUCN Red List. As a Philippine-endemic rainforest epiphyte it shares the pressures on Philippine lowland forest, where deforestation and habitat loss threaten canopy epiphytes. A plant celebrated on a banknote, clinging to tree forks in one of the world's most heavily logged forest regions.
When it sulks
No flowersToo little light or humidity, or too much disturbance. It often needs a cooler rest period to trigger flowering.
Crispy edges, bud dropLow humidity and dry or cold drafts. The most common complaint.
Yellowing, root rotOverwatering or a soggy, poorly drained mix.
Cold damageChilling below about 15°C. Keep it warm and out of drafts.
PestsMealybugs, scale and spider mites. Otherwise generally disease-free.
Varieties & company
The varieties
FlamencoDolce VitaLambadaRoyal Intenz
Pairs with · keep apart from
AnthuriumCalatheaFernsCactiSucculentsSnake Plant
A new plant, every week.
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