🌏 Habitat and Ecology
​Ceratostema reginaldii is a highly localized, rare ericaceous shrub endemic to the high-altitude wet montane cloud forests of southern Ecuador, with populations primarily recorded across the provinces of Azuay, Loja, and Zamora-Chinchipe. It thrives in the cool, moisture-laden transition zones (ecotones) between dense cloud forests and the open, high-elevation subpáramo. Demonstrating remarkable adaptability in its natural habitat, it can be found growing both as a scrambling terrestrial shrub in acidic, humic soils and as an epiphyte firmly anchored in the deep moss of ancient canopy trees at extreme elevations ranging from 1700 up to 3400 metres.
​🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
​This species is prized by specialist epiphyte and rare plant collectors for its bold, leathery foliage and massive, architecturally winged, red tubular flowers.
​Habit: It is a robust, erect to scrambling evergreen shrub, which can act as a massive epiphyte in the wild. Like many Andean Ceratostema, it often develops a thickened, woody base (lignotuber) from which the stems aggressively emerge.
​Foliage: The alternate, petiolate leaves are thick, intensely leathery (coriaceous), and broadly elliptic to ovate. Unlike the miniature leaves of many related species, the foliage of C. reginaldii is relatively large and broad (up to 9.5 cm wide), displaying prominent plinerved venation.
​Flowers: Blooming on long, axillary racemes (sometimes extending over 15 cm long), it produces spectacular, thick-fleshy, tubular flowers specifically adapted for hummingbird pollination. The blooms are typically a brilliant, saturated red to orange-red. A key distinguishing feature of this species is its massive, prominently 5-winged calyx and its connate (fused) staminal filaments that end in exceptionally long, pollen-bearing tubules.
​🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
​Taxonomy
​According to Kew Plants of the World Online (POWO), the accepted scientific name for this species is Ceratostema reginaldii (Sleumer) A.C.Sm. It belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae, within the tribe Vaccinieae. It was originally described in 1941 under the basionym Periclesia reginaldii Sleumer, before being formally transferred to Ceratostema by Albert Charles Smith in 1952 when the genus Periclesia was subsumed.
​Ethnobotany
​There are no recorded traditional medicinal or culinary uses for this specific high-altitude species. It is strictly cultivated globally as an ultra-premium, highly desirable ornamental, sought after by advanced rare plant collectors and cool-terrarium builders in the UK looking for spectacular Andean rarities.
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Because it originates from extreme elevations near the Andean páramo, this species is a strict cool-grower that absolutely resents high summer heat and stagnant conditions.
​Light: Requires bright, filtered indirect light to partial sun. In the cooler UK climate, it can tolerate higher light levels than lowland tropicals, which helps trigger its spectacular flowering, provided it is protected from harsh midday sun.
​Substrate & Soil: Demands an exceptionally aerated, acidic, and well-draining epiphytic mix. A premium blend of large-grade orchid bark, coarse perlite or pumice, and a generous amount of high-quality New Zealand sphagnum moss is ideal. It performs beautifully in a slatted wooden basket or a well-ventilated terracotta pot.
​Temperature: It is a strict cool-to-intermediate montane grower. Exposure to prolonged, stifling heat without nighttime relief will cause rapid decline.
​Daytime Range: 16–22°C (61–72°F).
​Nighttime Range: 8–14°C (46–57°F). A distinct and significant nighttime temperature drop is mandatory for its long-term health and to initiate blooming.
​Watering & Humidity: Requires excellent ambient humidity (70%+) and constant air movement. The acidic potting medium must be kept evenly and consistently moist using pure rainwater or reverse osmosis (RO) water. Never use hard tap water, as alkaline mineral buildup will quickly damage its sensitive ericaceous root system.
​✨ Unique Features
​Ceratostema reginaldii is an exceptionally rare, high-altitude Ecuadorian shrub featuring bold, leathery leaves and massive, prominently winged red tubular flowers. 
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: As pictured. This is our stock plant.
Plant Family: Ericaceae
Plant Passport: A Ceratostema reginaldii B 140084 C use the number written on the plant label D GB