These start out as rhizomes, which look very much like a small pine cone. My flowers are the blue ones, but they come in other colors as well. The blossoms are large on mine, over two inches, and they multiple over the years. The blooms last a couple of days. The plants bloom from about the end of July until the end of October. Plant them where they will get morning sun and afternoon shade.

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Achimenes is native to Mexico and South America and is a rhizomatous perennial herb in the Gesneriaceae family of plants. Achimenes have much larger flowers than their cousin the African Violet, and with their trailing growth habit they make a wonderful hanging basket plant. The rhizomes have the appearance of little pine cones, and when the plant goes into dormancy the rhizomes can be dug and stored in a cool, dry place for replanting in spring.

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