• Photo of Callianthe megapotamica (Callianthe megapotamicas)

Plant Profile: Callianthe megapotamica

Names

Brazilian Bellflower, Brazilian Bell Flower, Chinese Lanterns

  • Photo of Callianthe megapotamica (Callianthe megapotamicas)

Phonetic Spelling:kal-lee-AN-thee meg-uh-poh-TAY-mih-kuh

Genus:Callianthe

Species:megapotamica

Family:Malvaceae

The Brazilian Bellflower is a striking, semi-evergreen perennial shrub belonging to the mallow family, indigenous to Brazil. It showcases vibrant red and yellow blooms that emerge in late spring. This plant is not only easy to cultivate but also attracts hummingbirds, grows rapidly, and features distinctive lantern-like flowers that persist until frost. It serves well as an ornamental plant and can enhance a perennial border beautifully.

For optimal growth, pruning should take place in late winter. If you desire a fuller appearance, you can trim up to 40% of its size.

However, be aware that spider mites and elongated growth can occasionally pose challenges. Additionally, direct contact with the plant may lead to allergic reactions or skin irritation.

Callianthe megapotamica Feature Summary

Callianthe megapotamica Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#easy to grow
#showy
#lantern
#lantern flowers

Similar Plants

Callianthe megapotamica Feature Summary

Attributes
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Perennial
Attracts Pollinators
Flowers
The bell-shaped flowers have both male and female parts. These flowers look like lanterns, hang downwards, are 2 inches, and yellow petals underneath the red calyces.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Shrub
Arching
Prostrate
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Border
Specimen
Container
Patio
Butterflies
Pollinators
Bees
Hummingbirds
Contact Dermatitis

Callianthe megapotamica Attributes

Callianthe megapotamica: Country Or Region Of Origin

Brazil

Callianthe megapotamica: Wildlife Value

Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Callianthe megapotamica: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Callianthe megapotamica: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Callianthe megapotamica Flowers

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Description

The bell-shaped flowers have both male and female parts. These flowers look like lanterns, hang downwards, are 2 inches, and yellow petals underneath the red calyces.

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Callianthe megapotamica: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Callianthe megapotamica Whole Plant Traits

Callianthe megapotamica: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Callianthe megapotamica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Callianthe megapotamica: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Callianthe megapotamica: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Callianthe megapotamica: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Callianthe megapotamica Cultural Conditions

Callianthe megapotamica: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Callianthe megapotamica: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Callianthe megapotamica: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Callianthe megapotamica: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Callianthe megapotamica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Callianthe megapotamica: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Callianthe megapotamica Leaves

Callianthe megapotamica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Callianthe megapotamica: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Callianthe megapotamica: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Callianthe megapotamica: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Callianthe megapotamica: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Callianthe megapotamica: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Callianthe megapotamica: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Callianthe megapotamica: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Callianthe megapotamica Stem

Callianthe megapotamica: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Callianthe megapotamica: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags

Callianthe megapotamica Landscape

Callianthe megapotamica: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Callianthe megapotamica: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Callianthe megapotamica: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Callianthe megapotamica: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Callianthe megapotamica: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy