It looks like a columnea but I could be wrong. It looks very nice and healthy though.

Jon, Thanks. I originally thought the columneas were all trailing basket plants. After your suggestion, I did a little research, and found that there are upright columneas with woody stems. This one's stem is starting to get woody, so I think you are right. We'll know for sure when it blooms, which is supposed to be initiated by cooler temps. Maybe in the spring.

It bloomed just recently. It was worth the wait. It's the biggest gesneriad I have, I just recently gave it a spot in the window, to free up my precious flourescent light space. Sorry for the fuzzy pics, my camera refuses to do decent close-ups.

I'm pretty sure it's this one: Columnea schiedeana
click on the link, it's a much better picture!

Here is a link that might be useful: Columnea schiedeana

congratulations! yours looks more spotted than striped.

I have a cutting of schiediana which is doing nothing so far -I think it's rooted, but I'm not giving it enough light.

It's spotted on the petals, and striped on the long,thin part (corolla?)
It was a slow grower, so my advice is to give it some time. This one was small for a long time, it only took off about 3-4 months ago. I have another Columnea from the seed packet (planted over a year ago now) that is still only about 6 inches tall.

Yes, its definitely schiedeana. That is one columnea that is easy to ID. I know of no other columnea that comes even close, not even schiedeana hybrids, of which there are quite a few.

It has been in cultivation for a long time, and will grow into a very large plant, but can be kept smaller with pruning. It flowers all year long, more or less, and is one of the easiest to grow. It is wide spread at higher elevations in Mexico, so can handle cold dips down to 32, if they are for a short time in the early morning. There are three or four different collections in cultivation. I am pretty sure that you have the common Mexican form. There is a large grower from Costa Rica, that has wonderfully spotted flowers, but is a coarser grower, plus one from Mexico that has all yellow flowers, and somewhere, hopefully still in cultivation, is one that has red backed leaves. When the GRF went on a collecting trip to Mexico they found one that had all red leaves. I saw a photo of it--it was outstanding; but, sadly, it never made it into cultivation (that's the one I really want!). I like schiedeana a lot, and have been growing it for many years. When I grow it outdoors, the hummingbirds will set berries for me, which are white.

Jon

Jon, Thanks again for the info. I have found it to be pretty carefree. I may try taking a cutting to get another plant, so I can try growing it outside (always looking for new plant for the porch.)