Special Offers

The Violet Barn

Special offers

This is the page to view for:

New plant material. We're always collecting new material, much of it "unusual", in the sense that it's been hard to find elsewhere. Should we have any extra plants for sale, we'll tell you about them here.
The rare and unusual. Plants aren't just a business for us, it's a fun hobby too. We'll grow almost anything that catches our eye and that we can successfully get to grow for us. We also do a lot of traveling, either across the country or across the world, and have friends and sources everywhere. Sometimes we'll have a few extra to offer.
Plants not listed on catalog. We can't list everything in our catalog--there's just too much! This doesn't mean that it's not worthy--sometimes we just didn't have enough in stock when the catalog went to press (or we simply forgot to include it).
Some personal favorites. Sometimes there are plants that we love that others just don't seem to appreciate. Some of the very best plants are often some of the least in demand.
Great plants at bargain prices! Often, we just have too many plants of a particular variety. You can save some money, and we can gain some extra growing space.
WE'RE ALWAYS UPDATING THESE PAGES. BE SURE TO RETURN AGAIN SOON!

Columnea Early Bird Chirita Rachel LOOK FOR THESE ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE!

Here's a few suggested pages for viewing. Click on the photos at left to take you there.

You'll see the varieties shown, as well as more within that genus. Those pictured here we believe are especially good buys at this time.

Kohleria 'Peridot's Karaoke' Columnea 'Early Bird' Chirita 'Rachel'

Smithianta An's Firebrand

NEW SMITHIANTHA HYBRIDS!

These rhizomatous plants are among the most spectacular of all gesneriads. They are generally seasonal growers, growing and blooming from fall through spring. Tubular, spotted, blooms are borne on tall spikes above lush, dark, very velvety foliage. They can be very heavy bloomers, with dozens (even hundreds) of blooms on occassion.

Care is similar to violets. We've grown ours easily under either artificial or natural light on windowsills. The plants shown at left are hybrids of Vivian Liu, from Taiwan. Photos are also courtesy of her. All have done well for us in our west-facing windows, and none can be easily found elsewhere. They are very new to collectors!

At left: An's Antique Print At center: An's Firebrand At right: An's Secret Code

Plants in 2 1/2" pots $7.00 each
While limited supplies last

NAUTILOCALYX LYNCHII

This species has butter-yellow, tubular, blooms that appear from the leaf axils. They are freely produced, though never in large numbers at any one time. This is a beautiful plant even when not in bloom and grown for foliage. The very dark, glossy, leaves have a dark-red backing which, when grown in a window, will "glow" bright red as the light shines through them.

An upright grower that will readily branch when pinched and will produce extra plantlets from its base, giving it a fuller appearance as it matures. Care same as for violets, very tolerant of neglect. We grow ours both under lights and in an obstructed west-facing window.

Plants in 2 1/2" pots $5.00 each
While limited supplies last

CHRYSOTHEMIS PULCHELLA

A terrific tuberous-rooted gesneriad with very dark, thin, serrated leaves and orange-marked yellow blooms appearing from bright orange calyces. An upright, branching, grower that makes a nice houseplant for a windowsill or light garden. Even when not in bloom the bright orange calyces and dark foliage make this an attractive plant.

Occasionally pinch tips (put tips in a vase as a 'cut flower') to keep it full and bushy and to promote more growth and blooms. A full-grown plant typically will be perhaps 10-15 inches in height and width and can fill a 5 or 6" pot, but can be kept smaller with proper pruning. Very easy to grow and bloom. Same care as for African violets and most other gesneriads.

Plants in 2 1/2" pots $5.00 each
While limited supplies last

DRYMONIA CHIRIBOGANA

This fairly exotic gesneriad is also one of the easiest to grow--almost indestructible, it tolerates plenty of neglect. Blooms are a lavender--purple and tubular, and last perhaps a day or so. Left to set seed, it produces very exotic-looking fruit (seen right). Unlike most other plants, it needs to mature before blooming of the old growth. It will bloom steadily, once it starts, sending out one or two blooms at a time over long periods.

Dark, leathery, foliage is heavily, broadly, veined in silver, making this a very attractive plant even when not in bloom. It can grow a foot or more in height, taking on the appearance similar to that of a "rubber tree" (though much more attractive). A great plant for a window, and highly recommended for the neglectful grower.

Plants in 2 1/2" pots $5.00 each
While limited supplies last

SINNINGIA 'AMANDA'S PENNY'

A nice, small growing variety with bright, salmon-orange blooms with darker shadings on white throat and lower lobes. A very easy grower and bloomer that stays small, yet regularly produces large, colorful, blooms.

A tuberous gesneriad, care is similar to that for African violets. The plant shown at left is potted in a 4" bonsai pot, with the tuber exposed above the soil and grown set back from a west-facing window. It's almost never without blooms.

Plants in 2 1/4" pots $5.00 each
While limited supplies last

Sinningia Mystique Double Pink Sinningia Blue Dandy SINNINGIA

Shown at far left is 'Mystique Double Pink' and at near left, 'Blue Dandy'. Both are compact growers, never exceeding 10" in diameter, and easy growers and bloomers.

Care is same as for African violets. We've grown ours both in windows and under artificial lights with great success.

Plants in 2 1/2" pots $10.00 each
While limited supplies last

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