Cyanastrum cordifolium

Botanical origin of Cyanastrum cordifolium

Cyanastrum cordifolium grows on evergreen forest floors in a native range stretching from Nigeria into western Central Africa. It belongs to the Tecophilaeaceae family.

Looking after Cyanastrum cordifolium

Place the plant in shade or filtered light. It tolerates lower light where it still receives daylight or grow light. Keep temperatures around 18–24 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Protect it from cold draughts and direct radiator heat. Keep the plant at roughly 60–80% relative humidity. Give the foliage enough airflow for surface moisture to clear.

Use moist, freely draining compost in a container with drainage holes; a fertile loamy mix is suitable. Feel the compost and lift the pot before watering. As the surface starts to dry and the pot feels lighter, water thoroughly while the roots are still lightly moist. Let excess water drain and empty water beneath the pot.

Keep the roots and corm lightly moist as the plant grows, and continue doing so if growth slows or stops. Check the surface and pot weight each time before watering.

While new leaves are expanding, give a modest amount of balanced houseplant fertiliser. Suspend feeding until active growth resumes.

When dense roots fill the pot, move the plant into a slightly larger container with drainage holes and fresh suitable compost.

Dealing with Cyanastrum cordifolium problems

• Wilting leaves: Check the compost first. Dry compost can mean the plant needs water; water thoroughly, let the pot drain and empty collected water. If the compost is soggy, empty trapped water and do not water again until the surface starts to dry and the pot feels lighter, while the roots and corm are still lightly moist. If wilt continues while the compost is still wet, inspect both roots and corm. Soft decaying tissue can indicate rot. If the corm remains firm and enough healthy roots survive, cut rotten roots back to firm healthy tissue with clean shears, discard the decayed material and repot in fresh freely draining compost in a clean pot with drainage holes. Keep the firm corm and surviving roots lightly moist and return to watering as the surface starts to dry and the pot feels lighter.
• Pale or brown patches after strong direct sun: Strong light may have damaged the leaves. Filter the light or move the plant farther from the direct sun.
• Sticky residue or white waxy clusters: Sap-feeding insects may be present; sticky residue can be honeydew and waxy clusters can be mealybugs. Inspect beneath the leaves and around the leaf-stalk joints. If you find insects, isolate the plant and gently wipe off a small visible infestation. If they persist, use a treatment only when its label covers that pest, indoor use and this plant, and follow its application, dose and repeat-treatment instructions.

Keep Cyanastrum cordifolium away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

About the name Cyanastrum cordifolium

Cyanastrum combines Greek elements meaning dark blue and star, a reference to the blue, star-shaped flowers of this tropical African genus. Cordifolium means heart-leaved, from the Latin cor, heart, and folium, leaf.

Daniel Oliver established the genus Cyanastrum in 1891 in Hooker’s Icones Plantarum, volume 20, plate 1965.

Daniel Oliver first described Cyanastrum cordifolium in 1891 in Hooker’s Icones Plantarum, volume 20, plate 1965.