Achimenes

Range and taxonomy

The genus is native to Mexico and Central America, with one species (A. erecta) occurring naturally in the West Indies. The largest number of species is found in Mexico. Several species and hybrids are widely cultivated and naturalized outside their native range. A complete list of the species, with their synonyms and geographic distributions, can be found in the Smithsonian Institution's World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.

Two species previously included in Achimenes are now classified in the segregation genus Eucodonia and several phylogenetic studies have supported this separation.

Species

24 species are accepted.

• Achimenes admirabilis Wiehler
• Achimenes antirrhina (DC.) C.V.Morton
• Achimenes brevifolia C.V.Morton
• Achimenes candida Lindl.
• Achimenes cettoana H.E.Moore
• Achimenes dulcis C.V.Morton
• Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs
• Achimenes fimbriata Rose ex C.V.Morton
• Achimenes flava C.V.Morton
• Achimenes glabrata (Zucc.) Fitzg.
• Achimenes grandiflora (Schiede) DC.
• Achimenes heterophylla (Mart.) DC.
• Achimenes hintoniana Ram.-Roa & L.E.Skog
• Achimenes ixtapaensis Beutelsp. & J.Mart.-Mel.
• Achimenes longiflora DC.
• Achimenes mexicana (Seem.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Fritsch
• Achimenes misera Lindl.
• Achimenes nayaritensis L.E.Skog
• Achimenes obscura C.V.Morton
• Achimenes occidentalis C.V.Morton
• Achimenes patens Benth.
• Achimenes pedunculata Benth.
• Achimenes skinneri Gordon ex Lindl.
• Achimenes woodii C.V.Morton

Cultivation

Achimenes species and hybrids are commonly grown as greenhouse plants, or outdoors as bedding plants in subtropical regions. The species have been extensively hybridized, with many of the hybrids involving the large-flowered species A. grandiflora and A. longiflora. Many of the species and their hybrids have large, brightly colored flowers and are cultivated as ornamental greenhouse and bedding plants. They are generally easy to grow as long as their basic requirements are met: a rich well-drained soil on the acid side, bright indirect light, warmth, constant moisture, and high humidity. They have a winter dormancy and overwinter as scaly rhizomes, which should be kept dry until they sprout again in the spring. Some of the species and their hybrids are moderately hardy and can be grown outdoors year-round in zone 8, or even zone 7 with protection.

In the UK, the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

• 'Ambroise Verschaffelt'
• 'Hilda Michelsen'
• × Achimenantha' Inferno' (× Achimenantha is an intergeneric hybrid between Achimenes and Smithiantha)