A bushy Central American plant, 1-3 ft. high, having oblong lance-shaped leaves and clusters of curious orange-red or scarlet flowers at the ends of the shoots. Plants are raised from seeds or from cuttings in heat, and are effective when used for bedding out in the summer months.

There are several other species, the best known being A. tuberosa, a hardy tuberous-rooted perennial, 1-2 ft. high, having dense clusters of orange-red flowers borne in the axils of the leaves from July to September.