Codariocalyx motorius syn. Desmodium gyrans
Telegraph plant
Native to parts of Asia this tropical plant gets its common name of 'Dancing Plant' from its ability to move its leaves visibly to the naked eye, in bright light. Suitable for growing in a container in areas that don't have a tropical climate, it is a slow-germinating plant, and bears pea-like purple flowers
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Full sun to partial shade
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Occasional watering
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Not Frost hardy
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Moist and free draining
Common name
Telegraph plant
Latin name
Codariocalyx motorius syn. Desmodium gyrans
type
Perennial
family
Fabaceae
ph
6.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun to partial shade
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Frost
Not Frost hardy
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Soil
Moist and free draining
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Water
Occasional watering
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
0.00 M
1.20 M
Codariocalyx motorius syn. Desmodium gyrans
Native to parts of Asia this tropical plant gets its common name of 'Dancing Plant' from its ability to move its leaves visibly to the naked eye, in bright light. Suitable for growing in a container in areas that don't have a tropical climate, it is a slow-germinating plant, and bears pea-like purple flowers
Flowering
From Early Spring TO Late Winter
Purple pea-like flowers can appear at more-or-less any time in the right conditions. In cooler conditions it has a dormancy period through Winter.
Planting
From Early Spring TO Late Winter
This plant requires tropical conditions - ie quite high temperatures. The soil needs to be free-draining - orchid compost is ideal for container growing. The compost or soil needs to be kept somewhat on the dry side
Propagating by seed
From Early Spring TO Late Winter
Seed can be sown at any time of year as long as a temperature of 75 - 80 deg.F can be maintained for the somewhat slow germination. Soak the seeds in warm water for two days prior to sowing, to soften the hard outer case of the seed, and then sow the seed in a compost-rich mix (orchid mix is ideal) and place the container, covered with a film of plastic, in a dimly lit warm place. Germination may take between 30 and 90 days, so patience is needed!
mr_plantgeek