Episcia Dianthiflora - The Lace Flower Vine
Prepare to fall in love with those flowers. The Episcia dianthiflora, commonly known as the Lace Flower Vine, produces some of the most enchanting blooms you'll find on a houseplant. Each white trumpet-shaped flower opens to reveal petals edged with the most delicate fringed rays, like tiny pieces of handmade lace. It's easy to see why this plant has captured hearts wherever it grows.
Native to the humid forests of Mexico and Central America, this charming member of the African Violet family (Gesneriaceae) combines beautiful flowers with attractive velvety foliage and an easy-going nature. The fuzzy, dark green leaves form neat rosettes from which trailing stolons emerge, each one producing baby plantlets along its length. It's a plant that wants to spread joy, quite literally.
Whether displayed in a hanging basket where its trailing stems can cascade beautifully, or grown in a terrarium where humidity keeps it thriving, the Lace Flower Vine rewards even beginner plant parents with its gorgeous blooms and forgiving temperament.
The Flowers
These are truly special. Each flower is a white trumpet that flares open into petals edged with the most intricate fringed margins. The effect resembles delicate lace or the fringed petals of a dianthus (hence the species name "dianthiflora" meaning "dianthus-flowered"). Some varieties also feature purple or pink spotting in the throat.
In good conditions, the Lace Flower Vine can bloom throughout the year, though peak flowering typically occurs from spring through summer. The flowers appear at the ends of stems, standing proud above the foliage and creating a lovely contrast against the dark velvety leaves.
The Foliage
The leaves are another feature worth appreciating. Small, oval, and covered in soft fuzz, they have a velvety texture that immediately reveals this plant's relationship to African Violets. The foliage is typically a deep green, often with darker markings along the veins that add depth and interest.
The leaves grow in neat rosettes, from which the plant produces numerous stolons (runners). These stolons bear plantlets at their tips that root readily, allowing the plant to spread and create beautiful trailing displays or dense mats of foliage.
Growth Habit
This is a stoloniferous plant, meaning it produces runners that spread outward from the parent plant. Each stolon develops plantlets that root when they contact soil, creating new plants. Left to its own devices in ideal conditions, a single plant can form an impressive mat of interconnected rosettes.
The trailing habit makes it perfect for hanging baskets, where stolons can cascade over the edges. It's equally happy in shallow planters where it can spread, or in terrariums where the high humidity suits it perfectly.
Light Requirements
Bright, indirect light is ideal, but this plant is quite adaptable. It tolerates partial shade and even performs well under artificial lighting, making it an excellent choice for offices or rooms without abundant natural light. Avoid harsh direct sunlight, which can scorch the delicate leaves.
If you're growing African Violets successfully, you can grow Episcia dianthiflora in similar conditions. An east-facing window, a spot near but not directly in front of brighter windows, or placement under grow lights all work well.
Watering
Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. The Lace Flower Vine doesn't like to dry out completely, but it's also sensitive to sitting in water, which can lead to root rot. Water when the top layer of soil begins to feel dry, and ensure excellent drainage.
Room temperature water is best, and take care not to get water on the fuzzy leaves, which can cause spotting. Bottom watering works well for this reason.
Humidity and Temperature
Being a tropical plant, Episcia dianthiflora appreciates higher humidity. It thrives in terrariums where humidity is naturally elevated, and does well in humid rooms like kitchens and bathrooms with adequate light. In drier environments, regular misting, pebble trays, or a nearby humidifier helps maintain the humidity levels this plant prefers.
Temperature-wise, keep it warm. The ideal range is 18-24°C, with a minimum of 12°C. Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Potting and Soil
Use a well-draining but moisture-retentive potting mix. African Violet mixes are ideal, or create your own with standard potting soil amended with perlite for drainage. The goal is soil that stays lightly moist without becoming waterlogged.
Shallow pots or hanging baskets work well, as the plant has relatively shallow roots and focuses its energy on producing those beautiful trailing stolons.
Feeding
Feed monthly during the growing season with Growth Technology Foliage Focus diluted to half strength (1.5-2ml per litre). Like its African Violet relatives, this plant benefits from regular light feeding rather than heavy applications. Reduce or stop feeding in winter when growth naturally slows.
Propagation
Propagation is wonderfully easy. Those stolons produce plantlets that root readily. Simply pin down a plantlet where it contacts soil and it will root, or snip off a rooted plantlet and pot it up separately. Stem cuttings also root easily in moist soil or water. Use Clonex Rooting Gel to encourage strong root development.
A Note on Naming
You may see this plant listed as either Episcia dianthiflora or Alsobia dianthiflora. It was previously classified in the Episcia genus but has since been moved to Alsobia. Both names are still commonly used in the trade. Regardless of what you call it, the care is the same.
Pet Safety
Excellent news for pet owners: the ASPCA confirms that Episcia dianthiflora is non-toxic to both cats and dogs. This makes it a wonderful choice for households with curious pets, allowing you to enjoy those gorgeous lacy flowers without worry.
Perfect For
- Hanging baskets (shows off trailing habit)
- Terrariums (loves the humidity)
- African Violet enthusiasts branching out
- Pet-friendly homes
- Offices with artificial lighting
- Beginners wanting flowering plants
- Windowsills and bright indoor spots
- Gift-giving (unique and blooming)
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will it flower?
In good conditions with adequate light and consistent care, Episcia dianthiflora can flower year-round, with peak blooming typically in spring and summer. Even outside peak season, you may see occasional blooms. Consistent light (natural or artificial) and regular feeding during the growing season encourage flowering.
Is it the same as an African Violet?
No, but they're close relatives in the same family (Gesneriaceae). You'll notice similarities in the fuzzy leaves and general care requirements. If you can grow African Violets, you can grow this plant using similar techniques.
What are those runners it's producing?
Those are stolons, a natural way this plant reproduces. Each stolon develops a plantlet at its tip that will root and become a new plant. You can leave them attached for a fuller display, or snip them off and pot up the plantlets to create new plants or share with friends.
Why are the leaf edges turning brown?
Brown leaf edges typically indicate low humidity. Increase humidity by misting, using a pebble tray, grouping with other plants, or moving to a more humid location. In very dry environments, consider a terrarium where humidity is naturally higher.
Is it safe for my pets?
Yes! The ASPCA lists Episcia dianthiflora as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. While eating any plant can potentially cause mild stomach upset, this one doesn't contain toxic compounds.
Please Keep in Mind
Episcia dianthiflora is an easy-care trailing plant from the African Violet family, producing stunning white fringed flowers and attractive velvety foliage. It requires bright indirect light (tolerates lower light and artificial lighting), consistently moist but not waterlogged soil, and appreciates higher humidity. The plant spreads via stolons and is ideal for hanging baskets or terrariums. Confirmed non-toxic to cats and dogs by ASPCA, making it an excellent pet-friendly flowering houseplant.
If you are from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase this plant, we recommend using Paradise Distributors concierge service. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing: info@rareplants.net.au
Shipping & Greenhouse Collection
Let's Talk About How Your Plants Get to You!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'Visit the Greenhouse' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
