PlantFiles: Showy Medinilla
Medinilla magnifica

our medinilla gave us bounteous blooms for the first time this year, after about four years of growth in a sheltered position. the blooms started in spring, and they persist on the plant, quite attractive still on sept 29. we have it in the ground, a raised bed lined with lava rocks, so the foliage and blooms are at eye level. it is underplanted with bromeliads and begonias, and requires little care, other than water in dry spells and some mealy bug control (spray with dilute simple green).

Got this plant on sale at one of the box stores and wasn't sure what to do with it, never having seen it before. But it was so pretty I just had to get it.
I ended up planting it in a mostly shaded area under a couple of oaks. It gets somewhat regular water and spotty sun and hasn't stopped blooming. It seems to have been left alone by critters so far. I'll continue crossing my fingers. I imagine I'll have to cover it come winter.

This plant seems to be very easy to grow and flowers readily. The picture I submitted shows the flower buds emerging. I will add others as it progresses.

We live on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii. The plant was in bloom when we bought it at Lowes about 4 years ago but has not bloomed since. It grows agressively in mid-day sun near the ocean with shade in the morning and afternoon but will not flower.
Also, something is eating big holes out of the leaves that look like Japanese rose beetle bites but we have not found the culprit for sure.

Any ideas why it won't bloom?

I love this plant. I have searched long and hard for her. Thanks to joining DaveGarden I was finally able to find her.
She is growing well with me in the basement. She loves grow lights and liquid compost. Since she love humidity I keep a special temperature gauge that tracks the highest temperature and humidity during the day vs at night. I find that 35-45% is a great balance to keep all my plants happy and growing. So far I have not had any problems with her. She did suffer a little transplant shock and dropped two leaves.

I live on the outermost Atlantic barrier island w/lots of salt air. I 've kept my beautiful Medinilla in a large pot snuggled in the corner of the east wall of my home, where it gets morning sun until noon. Normally, my plants are better insulated against our mercurial weather planted in the ground (ranges f/below freezing some winters to 98F), happy f/heat radiated off the wall in winter. It is blooming now, mid-June thru mid-July w/several blossoms. I moved it into garage f/3 hurricanes last summer, and although I don't keep many plants in pots, felt I'd protect this one f/nematodes. It seems to do well in open shade, but definitely post noon direct summer sun will cook it.

there MUST be something wrong with this plant because i cannot imagine why it hasn't gotten the attention its beauty deserves.

the one i bought today, the 'grapes' start off white and gradually darken through pink to purple. the foliage is extremely attractive.

occasionally it gets to way below 40 degrees here in bradenton, fl., so i guess i'll lose it shortly, but the pleasure it will give me until then will be worth it.

perhaps if i wrap it well?

anybody got any ideas?

We had a beautiful specimen of this plant in the property where we lived previously (same village). It reached huge proportions and when covered in blooms it was gorgeous. Locals call it Filipino Grape Hyacinth.