Gynura Asteraceae : The diversed indoor flower
Gynura is a plant that comes from Africa and is often called the "blue bird." Its variety is quite large. In this article, we will explain how to care for this flower at home and what makes it special.
This houseplant, native to Africa and Asia, belongs to the Asteraceae family. The name Gynura means "girl with a tail" because of its long, drooping stems. It is a tough plant that is suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
When the plant is young, its stems grow straight. But as it gets older, they can't support their weight and start to droop. An interesting feature is that if you tie the stems to a support, you can shape the plant into different forms, like arches or rectangles.
When supported, the plant can grow up to 1 meter tall. Without support, it rarely exceeds 40 centimeters.
As it grows, Gynura develops side shoots that add to its beauty. The leaves grow alternately on small stalks and can be triangular or oval. The size varies: the lower leaves are large, up to 20 cm long, while the upper ones become smaller.
The leaves are often covered in tiny hairs and come in shades of purple, lilac, or bluish-green, catching the eye of garden lovers.
Gynura flowers from December to May, and under good conditions, it can bloom all year. Its small flower clusters appear at the tips of stems or in leaf axils. The flowers come in many colors, like orange, yellow, greenish, or purple.
An unusual fact is that the buds have a strong smell that most find unpleasant. Flowering can weaken the plant, so gardeners often remove the buds before they bloom. If the plant does flower, seed pods will form instead of flowers.
It is very important to know that Gynura is poisonous. When handling the plant, wear gloves to avoid contact with the skin. Families with children should keep it out of reach or avoid having it indoors for safety.