Medinilla magnifica 'Flamenco'

Background and history

‘Flamenco’ was developed through Laguna Plants’ Medinilla breeding programme. It was selected for more intensely candy-pink flowers and flower stems, together with rounder, upright dark-green leaves. These traits give the selection its identity in cultivation.

‘Flamenco’ is sold as a form of Medinilla magnifica, whose wild home is Luzon. The cultivar itself came from nursery breeding rather than from the wild.

Care for a flowering tropical shrub

• Preserve the flower display: On arrival, give Medinilla magnifica ‘Flamenco’ stable warmth, humidity and bright filtered light. Avoid immediate repotting and repeated changes of position while buds and flowers are present.
• Light: Bright indirect light supports sturdy flowering shoots. Shield the rounded leaves and pink stems from hot direct sun.
• Water: Keep moisture moderate and even through active growth and bloom, allowing every watering to drain. Reduce frequency as growth slows, but do not leave the root ball completely dry for long.
• Root medium: Use a coarse, airy epiphytic shrub mixture that drains freely but still holds a little moisture. Avoid oversized pots filled with dense wet compost.
• Climate: Maintain warm stable temperatures, high humidity and gentle air movement, away from cold draughts and sudden drops.
• Nutrition: Use a weak balanced fertiliser while growth is active, then pause or reduce during rest.
• Pruning and propagation: Cut spent panicles without removing all healthy leafy nodes. Propagate Medinilla ‘Flamenco’ from cuttings rather than seed to preserve its characteristics.

Problems and solutions for Medinilla magnifica 'Flamenco'

• Buds stop or drop: A sudden move can interrupt ‘Flamenco’s’ buds, cold draughts, low light, dry roots, saturation or a sudden humidity shift. Keep conditions stable and check each factor rather than repeatedly moving the plant.
• Few future flowers: Weak light and immature shoots can limit the next display. Do not use abrupt temperature changes or a rigid forcing routine; let new shoots mature under stable conditions.
• Crisp edges or bleached patches: Dryness and salts produce marginal damage, while hard sun creates pale exposed areas. Correct the confirmed cause; existing marks remain.
• Sticky leaves and sooty mould: Search stems and leaf undersides for scale or mealybugs. Control the sap feeder first, then wipe away the honeydew residue.
• Flowers soften and begin to decay: Prolonged wetness on the display can turn flowers soft and brown. Remove affected blooms, improve gentle airflow and keep the plant apart if softness continues into fresh tissue.
• Stippling or webbing: These signs support spider mites, particularly in warm dry air. Confirm the pest and select a product labelled for spider mites.

Medinilla magnifica ‘Flamenco’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

What does the name Medinilla magnifica mean?

The genus Medinilla honours José de Medinilla y Pineda. The Latin epithet magnifica means magnificent or splendid.

Augustin Pyramus de Candolle established the genus Medinilla in 1828 in Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, volume 3, page 167; Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré had proposed the name.

John Lindley first described Medinilla magnifica in 1850 in Paxton’s Flower Garden, volume 1, page 55.