Episcia cupreata Silver Shield - Flame violet

The Episcia 'Silver Shield', or Flame Violet, is a houseplant with delightful silver foliage. Its ovate leaves are delicately quilted and edged with chocolate tones. This variety thrives particularly well in bright rooms such as a living room or conservatory where it can enjoy abundant light without direct sun. In a hanging basket, its trailing habit works wonders, while in a terrarium, it will form an elegant ground cover.

The Episcia 'Silver Shield' is a stoloniferous perennial plant belonging to the Gesneriaceae family. This cultivar derived from the species Episcia cupreata is prized for its ornamental foliage and vibrant flowering. Its velvety leaves feature a quilted texture and a chocolate-brown hue accentuated by silver veins; they measure between 4 and 10 cm in length. The plant reaches a height of 15 to 20 cm and a spread of around 30 cm. Its growth is rapid, encouraged by the production of stolons that develop new shoots, much like strawberries. The flowering, which extends from spring to autumn, produces small tubular orange-red flowers that stand out beautifully against the foliage. The Episcia genus includes around ten species of perennial plants native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, particularly Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela. These herbaceous plants closely related to African violets thrive in humid undergrowth, forming vegetative carpets thanks to their creeping stolons. The genus name Episcia derives from the Greek 'episkios', meaning 'shaded', referring to the natural habitat of these plants in the undergrowth of tropical forests.
When grown indoors, the Episcia 'Silver Shield' requires bright light without direct sun exposure, high ambient humidity, and temperatures between 18 and 24°C. A rich, light, and well-draining substrate is recommended, with regular watering to keep the soil slightly moist while avoiding excess water.

The irresistibly chic Episcia 'Silver Shield' is a decorative asset for enhancing a bright living room, bedroom, or even a sheltered conservatory. With its trailing habit and silver leaves, it is suited to hanging baskets, wall-mounted troughs, or a high shelf from where its stolons can spread freely. This refined-looking plant fits perfectly into bohemian or contemporary interiors. It can also be used to green up a terrarium or decorate a bright bathroom. To create a harmonious display on a shelf, pair it with an African violet (Saintpaulia 'Optimara MyJoy') and a Peperomia argyreia, for example.