Purple Passion (Gynura Aurantiaca) is native to south east Asia but due to its low light requirements makes an excellent houseplant in other parts of the world. It’s main attractive feature is its brilliant purple hairs on its leaves which become more prominent in lower light levels. The plant grows stems vertically initially but once they get longer, they begin to vine along the ground. This means that when growing as a houseplant, it is often desirable to cut the stems back periodically to keep the plant compact and bushy.

Last year I was visiting a Christmas fair when I spotted a table of highly strange looking plants, they reminded me of either a crocodile or some sort of succulent stinging nettle. My interest was piqued and I was keen to discover what these plants might be. Looking at the label I saw that they were called Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Never having heard of this I did a quick Google to check what growing conditions it required and whether I’d be likely to be able to provide them in my home.