Ceratostema Gualaquizensis var. Tubularis Ceratostema gualaquizensis var. tubularis

A freshly described botanical treasure from the Cordillera Real of southeastern Ecuador, Ceratostema gualaquizensis was formally named and published in Phytotaxa in November 2024, collected from the township of Gualaquiza in Morona-Santiago Province at approximately 1,350 meters elevation. It belongs to the genus Ceratostema within the Ericaceae family — the same family as blueberries and heathers — a group of mostly pendant, epiphytic shrubs native to the montane cloud forests of the Andes that have become increasingly sought after by collectors for their extraordinary tubular flowers and compact, leathery foliage. The tubularis variety is distinguished by its notably elongated, tubular corolla form, producing solitary, axillary flowers in vivid magenta with dramatically spreading, narrowly linear-triangular apical lobes tipped in near-black — a color combination of startling elegance against the small, elliptic, convex leaves with involute margins and fine white trichomes on young growth. It represents one of the most recently described species in the collector trade, and its availability is accordingly very limited.

As a cloud forest epiphyte from Andean montane forest, this species requires conditions that reflect its cool, misty origins — it is not a warm-lowland tropical. Bright filtered light similar to dappled cloud forest canopy is ideal; avoid harsh midday sun. Cool to intermediate temperatures are preferred, ideally 55-72°F, with good airflow. Keep the medium consistently but lightly moist in a very open, fast-draining epiphytic mix — sphagnum moss, bark, and perlite — never allowing waterlogged conditions which cause rapid root decline. High humidity of 70-85% is important for both foliage health and flowering. Feeding lightly with a balanced fertilizer at low dilution during active growth supports development without burning the fine root system. Not known to be toxic to humans or pets.