206 Species in Genus Aphelandra

March 1 – Aphelandra
"Aphelandra, the zebra plant, represents March 1."
Aphelandra’s bold, striped leaves symbolize individuality and confidence. If this is your day, you are unafraid to stand out and express your unique personality. Your vibrant energy draws others to you, and your creative ideas leave a lasting impression.

Aphelandra: A Plant Collector’s Dream

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the vibrant and unique in the natural world. That’s why I find myself captivated by the genus Aphelandra, a group of flowering plants that truly stand out. Belong to the Acanthaceae family, native to the tropical regions of the Americas, these evergreen shrubs bring a touch of the exotic to any plant collection.

Why I Love Aphelandra

What strikes me most about Aphelandra is the bold, graphic quality of their foliage. The large, simple leaves often feature striking white or silver veins that create a mesmerizing contrast against the deep green. It’s like Mother Nature herself took a paintbrush to these leaves, creating living works of art. And then there are the flowers. Held in magnificent spikes or clusters, they come in a dazzling array of colors – fiery reds, sunny yellows, and vibrant oranges. These blooms add a joyful burst of color that can brighten even the gloomiest day.

But it’s not just their beauty that fascinates me. Aphelandra species also boast a rich history of ethnobotanical use. Some have been traditionally employed for their medicinal properties, while others have played a role in local customs and traditions. This connection to human history adds another layer of intrigue to these already captivating plants.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Aphelandra is surprisingly diverse, encompassing over 200 recognized species. Each one possesses its own unique charm and characteristics. Here are:

1. Aphelandra acanthifolia Hook.
2. Aphelandra acanthus Nees
3. Aphelandra acrensis Lindau
4. Aphelandra albert-smithii Leonard
5. Aphelandra albinotata Wassh.
6. Aphelandra alexandri Leonard
7. Aphelandra ameleta Leonard
8. Aphelandra anderssonii Wassh.
9. Aphelandra antioquiensis Wassh.
10. Aphelandra apecoi R.Villanueva, Rob.Fernández & Pillaca
11. Aphelandra arborea (Mill.) M.R.Almeida
12. Aphelandra arisema Leonard
13. Aphelandra aristei Leonard
14. Aphelandra arnoldii Mildbr.
15. Aphelandra attenuata Wassh.
16. Aphelandra aucayacuensis Wassh.
17. Aphelandra aurantiaca (Scheidw.) Lindl.
18. Aphelandra azuayensis Wassh.
19. Aphelandra bahiensis (Nees) Wassh.
20. Aphelandra barkleyi Leonard
21. Aphelandra benoistii Wassh.
22. Aphelandra blanchetiana (Nees) Hook.f.
23. Aphelandra blandii Lindau
24. Aphelandra botanodes Leonard
25. Aphelandra boyacensis Leonard
26. Aphelandra bradeana Rizzini
27. Aphelandra campanensis Durkee
28. Aphelandra campii Wassh.
29. Aphelandra caput-medusae Lindau
30. Aphelandra castanifolia Britton ex Rusby
31. Aphelandra chamissoniana Nees
32. Aphelandra chaponensis Leonard
33. Aphelandra chrysantha Wassh.
34. Aphelandra cinnabarina Wassh.
35. Aphelandra cirsioides Lindau
36. Aphelandra claussenii Wassh.
37. Aphelandra colombiensis Lindau ex Leonard
38. Aphelandra colorata (Vell.) Wassh.
39. Aphelandra conformis Leonard
40. Aphelandra crenata Leonard
41. Aphelandra crispata Leonard
42. Aphelandra cuatrecasasii Leonard
43. Aphelandra cuscoensis Wassh.
44. Aphelandra darienensis Wassh.
45. Aphelandra dasyantha Wassh.
46. Aphelandra davidsonii Wassh.
47. Aphelandra decorata (Nees) Wassh.
48. Aphelandra diachyla Leonard
49. Aphelandra dielsii Mildbr.
50. Aphelandra diffusa Wassh.
51. Aphelandra dodsonii Wassh.
52. Aphelandra dolichantha Donn.Sm.
53. Aphelandra dukei Wassh.
54. Aphelandra dunlapiana Standl. & L.O.Williams
55. Aphelandra elata (Lindau) McDade & E.A.Tripp
56. Aphelandra encarnacionii Wassh.
57. Aphelandra espinosae Wassh.
58. Aphelandra espirito-santensis Profice & Wassh.
59. Aphelandra euopla Leonard
60. Aphelandra eurystoma Mildbr.
61. Aphelandra fasciculata Wassh.
62. Aphelandra fernandezii Leonard
63. Aphelandra ferreyrae Wassh.
64. Aphelandra flava Nees
65. Aphelandra formosa (Bonpl.) Nees
66. Aphelandra galba Wassh.
67. Aphelandra garciae Leonard
68. Aphelandra gigantea (Rizzini) Profice
69. Aphelandra gigantiflora Lindau
70. Aphelandra glabrata Willd. ex Nees
71. Aphelandra golfodulcensis McDade
72. Aphelandra goodspeedii Standl. & F.A.Barkley
73. Aphelandra gracilis Leonard
74. Aphelandra grangeri Leonard
75. Aphelandra grazielae Profice
76. Aphelandra guayasii Wassh.
77. Aphelandra guerrerensis Wassh.
78. Aphelandra gunnarii Wassh.
79. Aphelandra hapala Wassh.
80. Aphelandra harleyi Wassh.
81. Aphelandra harlingii Wassh.
82. Aphelandra hartwegiana Nees ex Benth.
83. Aphelandra haughtii Leonard
84. Aphelandra heydeana Donn.Sm.
85. Aphelandra hieronymi Griseb.
86. Aphelandra hintonii Wassh.
87. Aphelandra hirta (Klotzsch) Wassh.
88. Aphelandra huilensis Leonard
89. Aphelandra hylaea Leonard
90. Aphelandra hymenobracteata Profice
91. Aphelandra impressa Lindau
92. Aphelandra inaequalis Lindau
93. Aphelandra jacobinioides Lindau
94. Aphelandra juninensis Wassh.
95. Aphelandra killipii Leonard
96. Aphelandra kingii Wassh.
97. Aphelandra knappiae Wassh.
98. Aphelandra kolobantha Lindau
99. Aphelandra kuna T.F.Daniel & McDade
100. Aphelandra lamprantha Leonard
101. Aphelandra lasia Leonard
102. Aphelandra lasiandra (Mildbr.) McDade & E.A.Tripp
103. Aphelandra lasiophylla Leonard
104. Aphelandra latibracteata Wassh.
105. Aphelandra lawranceae Leonard
106. Aphelandra laxa Durkee
107. Aphelandra leonardii McDade
108. Aphelandra liboniana Jacob-Makoy
109. Aphelandra lilacina C.Ezcurra
110. Aphelandra limbatifolia Lindau
111. Aphelandra lineariloba Leonard
112. Aphelandra lingua-bovis Leonard
113. Aphelandra longiflora (Lindl.) Profice
114. Aphelandra loxensis Wassh.
115. Aphelandra luyensis Lindau
116. Aphelandra lyrata Nees
117. Aphelandra macrophylla Leonard
118. Aphelandra macrosiphon Lindau
119. Aphelandra macrostachya Nees
120. Aphelandra maculata (Tafalla ex Nees) Voss
121. Aphelandra madrensis Lindau
122. Aphelandra margaritae É.Morren
123. Aphelandra marginata Nees & Mart.
124. Aphelandra martiusii Wassh.
125. Aphelandra maximiliana (Nees) Benth. ex Lindau
126. Aphelandra merelloae T.F.Daniel & McPherson
127. Aphelandra micans Moritz ex Vatke
128. Aphelandra mildbraediana Leonard
129. Aphelandra modesta (Mildbr.) Wassh.
130. Aphelandra molinae T.F.Daniel
131. Aphelandra mollis (Nees) Leonard
132. Aphelandra mollissima Wassh.
133. Aphelandra montis-scalaris Lindau ex Pilg.
134. Aphelandra mucronata (Ruiz & Pav.) Nees
135. Aphelandra neesiana Wassh.
136. Aphelandra neillii Wassh.
137. Aphelandra nemoralis Nees
138. Aphelandra nitida Nees & Mart.
139. Aphelandra nuda Nees
140. Aphelandra obtusa (Nees) Wassh.
141. Aphelandra obtusifolia (Nees) Wassh.
142. Aphelandra ornata (Nees) T.Anderson
143. Aphelandra panamensis McDade
144. Aphelandra parviflora Leonard
145. Aphelandra parvispica Leonard
146. Aphelandra paulensis Wassh.
147. Aphelandra pepe-parodii Wassh.
148. Aphelandra peruviana Wassh.
149. Aphelandra phaina Wassh.
150. Aphelandra pharangophila Leonard
151. Aphelandra phlogea Leonard
152. Aphelandra phrynioides Lindau
153. Aphelandra pilosa Leonard
154. Aphelandra pinarotricha Leonard
155. Aphelandra plowmanii Wassh.
156. Aphelandra porphyrocarpa Leonard
157. Aphelandra prismatica (Vell.) Hiern
158. Aphelandra puberula Leonard
159. Aphelandra pulcherrima (Jacq.) Kunth
160. Aphelandra pumila G.Nicholson
161. Aphelandra quadrifaria Leonard
162. Aphelandra reticulata Wassh.
163. Aphelandra rigida Glaz. ex Mildbr.
164. Aphelandra rosulata (Lindau) Wassh.
165. Aphelandra rubra Wassh.
166. Aphelandra rugosa R.Villanueva, Rob.Fernández & Pillaca
167. Aphelandra runcinata Klotzsch ex Nees
168. Aphelandra rusbyi Britton ex Rusby
169. Aphelandra scabra (Vahl) Sm.
170. Aphelandra schiedeana Schltdl. & Cham.
171. Aphelandra schieferae Leonard
172. Aphelandra schottiana (Nees) Profice
173. Aphelandra schunkei Wassh.
174. Aphelandra scolnikiae Leonard
175. Aphelandra seibertii Leonard
176. Aphelandra sericantha Leonard
177. Aphelandra silvicola Leonard
178. Aphelandra sinclairiana Nees
179. Aphelandra speciosa Brandegee
180. Aphelandra stephanophysa Nees
181. Aphelandra steyermarkii Wassh.
182. Aphelandra stipulacea (Lindau) McDade & E.A.Tripp
183. Aphelandra storkii Leonard
184. Aphelandra straminea Leonard
185. Aphelandra sulphurea Hook.f.
186. Aphelandra superba Lindau
187. Aphelandra taborensis Leonard
188. Aphelandra terryae Standl.
189. Aphelandra tetroicia Wassh.
190. Aphelandra tillettii Wassh.
191. Aphelandra tomentosa Lindau
192. Aphelandra tonduzii Leonard
193. Aphelandra trianae Leonard
194. Aphelandra trichota Leonard
195. Aphelandra tridentata Hemsl.
196. Aphelandra tumbecensis Wassh.
197. Aphelandra variegata C.Morel ex Planch.
198. Aphelandra villonacensis Wassh.
199. Aphelandra viscosa Mildbr.
200. Aphelandra vitellina (Lindau) McDade & E.A.Tripp
201. Aphelandra wasshausenii Profice
202. Aphelandra weberbaueri Mildbr.
203. Aphelandra wendtii T.F.Daniel
204. Aphelandra wurdackii Wassh.
205. Aphelandra xanthantha Leonard
206. Aphelandra zamorensis Wassh.

Growing and Caring for Aphelandra

While Aphelandra plants may seem exotic, they’re not overly demanding when it comes to care. Here are a few key tips I’ve learned over the years:

• Light: Provide bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
• Humidity: These tropical plants thrive in humid environments. Consider using a humidifier or placing the pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water.
• Temperature: Maintain a warm temperature, ideally between 65-80°F (18-27°C). Avoid cold drafts.
• Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season.

With proper care, your Aphelandra plants will reward you with their stunning foliage and vibrant blooms.

More Than Just a Pretty Face

Beyond their ornamental value, Aphelandra species also contribute to the ecosystem. Their flowers attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, playing a vital role in supporting local biodiversity. Additionally, some species have been found to possess medicinal properties, with potential applications in treating inflammation and infections.

As I continue to explore the world of Aphelandra, I’m constantly amazed by their beauty, diversity, and ecological importance. These plants are a true testament to the wonders of the natural world, and I encourage everyone to discover the magic of Aphelandra for themselves.