Episcia cupreata Pink Brocade - Flame violet

The Episcia 'Pink Brocade' is a colourful cultivar of this South American perennial grown here as a houseplant under the name 'Flame Violet'. It develops velvety leaves with a soft, downy texture adorned with delicate pink, silver, brown, and light green patterns, creating a lovely contrast. Episcias are stoloniferous lianas that are best placed in hanging baskets from which they cascade elegantly. They may eventually flower under good growing conditions: bright, indirect light (though they appreciate some gentle sunlight), a very airy and well-drained substrate, frequent watering, and moderate to fairly high ambient humidity—but avoid misting the leaves directly.

The Episcia 'Pink Brocade' belongs to the Gesneriaceae family and is a horticultural cultivar grown for its ornamental qualities, also known as Episcia 'Cleopatra' or Episcia 'Cerri’s Tricolor'. Derived from the Episcia cupreata species, this perennial exhibits rapid growth, typically reaching a length of 40 cm to 1 m depending on growing conditions, with a spread of 20 to 30 cm. It is a liana, similar to a vine, developing fairly flexible, long stems with numerous downy, velvety, ovate, dentate, and textured leaves adorned with stunning green hues, metallic tones, and white, pink, reddish, and brown accents. Flowering may occur in the form of small tubular flowers in various colours, most often bright red. The Episcia genus includes about ten species native to northern South America, specifically Colombia, Brazil, Panama, and Venezuela. They grow as stoloniferous, herbaceous ground cover in tropical forests. These plants thrive under the canopy of humid forests, benefiting from dappled light and a warm, moist atmosphere. The best-known relative of the Episcia is the African Violet or Saintpaulia.
Indoors, the Episcia is a somewhat temperamental plant to grow, and this is even more true for varieties with non-green foliage. It prefers bright light and may enjoy some gentle sunlight during the earliest or latest hours of the day but dislikes drying out from direct sun. Keep the substrate slightly moist but not waterlogged. Avoid wetting the foliage. Moderate to high ambient humidity is ideal, above 50-60%, with temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. It is essential to protect the plant from draughts, dry radiator air, and temperatures below 15°C.

The Episcia 'Pink Brocade' may thrive when grown in a terrarium or under a cloche, at least initially, to provide high ambient humidity without misting. Under these conditions, it grows quickly, so it won’t stay there for very long. It fits perfectly into a bohemian or tropical interior thanks to its colourful foliage, elegant appearance, and exotic flowering. Hang it in a basket near a humidifier, alongside plants from the Araceae family with similar needs.