SafePlants

Congea tomentosa: A Cascade of Fuzzy Blooms

Congea tomentosa, commonly known as Woolly Congea, Shower Orchid, or Shower of Orchid, is a captivating tropical evergreen vine renowned for its spectacular floral displays.

Considerations for Pets

• Congea tomentosa is a fuzzy plant with fuzzy leaves, stems, and flower bracts.

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Congea tomentosa
• Family: Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae/Labiatae) - the mint or lavender family
• Genus: Congea
• Synonyms: Congea tomentosa var. oblongifolia

Common Names

• Woolly Congea
• Shower Orchid
• Shower of Orchid
• Lluvia de orquideas (Spanish)
• Congia, Cngea (Portuguese)

Distribution and Habitat

Congea tomentosa is native to southern China, Myanmar, and Thailand. It has also been introduced to other tropical regions, including Hawaii and Rarotonga. It thrives in secondary vegetation.

• Close-up views have been documented at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
• Observed growing at 130 m.a.s.l. in Managua, Nicaragua.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Congea tomentosa is a large, evergreen climbing vine or sarmentose shrub, capable of reaching 20 ft (6.1 m) in length.
• It can be grown as a trailing or climbing vine, or even as a large shrub (5-10 ft).
• The plant is characterized by its fuzzy leaves, stems, and flower bracts.
• Leaves are ovate with an acuminate apex (tapering to a point).
• Inflorescences are cymes containing 5-9 flowers, surrounded by 3 hairy, involucral bracts that can be white, pink, or lilac.

Quirky Facts

• Despite the common name "Shower Orchid," Congea tomentosa is not closely related to orchids.
• In the "potpri trade," the involucral bracts of Congea tomentosa are sometimes referred to as "orchid flowers".

Ecology

• Displays showy flowering clusters of petal-like bracts in winter and spring.
• Its peculiar petal color is stunning when it flowers in spring in Xishuangbanna.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden offers tips and ideas from a community of gardeners.
• Plants of Hawaii, documented by Forest and Kim Starr, provides images and information.
• The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) offers help and information.
• The Plant List includes accepted plant names.
• World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, provides further taxonomic information.
• The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) offers authoritative taxonomic data.
• Flora of China provides information specific to the plant's presence in China.