Rare Plant, Gold Cup (SHIPPING INCLUDED)
45 in stock
Quick Overview
RARE PLANT – The Gold Cup Plant – Solandra Maxima
FULL SUN This is one of the most entertaining plants you could ever own. It is actually a vigorous vine, but can be maintained through pruning, as a bushy houseplant. Keeping the Gold Cup as a houseplant is highly recommended. When brought inside, in the early fall, it will begin to bloom and will bloom for approximately 4-6 weeks. One healthy plant will produce up to 50 blossoms. Each blossom is 8-10 inches long and 3-4 inches wide at the mouth. When the blossom bud first bursts, it is pure, crystalline white. Within 24 hours, the blossom turns golden yellow. Each blossom has a heavenly fragrance which can fill a room. During the course of a winter season, many Gold Cups lose most of their leaves, but once the plant is carried outside in the late spring, it immediately begins to produce a luxurious new crop of leaves. This plant is really a special addition to anyone’s collection.
| Scientific Name | Native to | Plant Height at Maturity | Plant Width at Maturity | Hardiness Zones | Type |
| Solandra Maxima | Mexico, Central America | Height–20 feet | Width–6-8 feet | 9-11 | Perennial |
**If maintained as a houseplant optimum size is: Height – 30 inches, Width – 3-4 feet
**Can be maintained as a houseplant in a 24-30 inch pot
Rare Plant, Gold Cup
The Gold Cup Plant is known by many names including the Chalice Vine Plant, The Cup of Gold Plant, etc. It is indigenous to Mexico and Central America where it was known and used by indigenous peoples since prehistoric times. The stems, leaves and blossoms contain small amounts of hallucinogenic compounds like atropine, noratropine, hyoscamine and tropine. There is archaeological evidence that suggests that the Gold Cup Plant was used for religious hallucinogenic purposes long before peyote. A drink made from the roots and branches of the plant was used as an inebriant in certain indigenous traditional ceremonies.
The Spanish explorers were introduced to the plant by the Aztecs. The explorers then brought the plant to Europe. It must have been carried to California and the Gulf Coast, but has never been widely grown. Eventually, it is believed that Captain Cook introduced it into Hawaii.
The Gold Cup plant can be easily propagated from cuttings rooted in water or in soil. In both tropical regions and in temperate areas as a houseplants, this vine is very vigorous. As a houseplant it is best pruned to be a bush.
As a houseplant it flourishes when fed a bloom booster fertilizer throughout the winter and a general fertilizer throughout the summer. As a permanent outdoor plant it should be fed a high potassium and phosphate fertilizer year round.
The Best Soil Mix for Containers
