Re: Do you know this plant?
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Do you know this plant?
- From: D* &* J*
- Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 10:08:11 -0400
- References: <302f5af3.250105f3@aol.com>
Kemberly,
Great photo!
Your mystery plant is Odontonema strictum, aka Firespike. Selected as
one of Florida's 1999 plants of the year. From the Acanthus family, very
easily propagated from cuttings, most of which will bloom two months
after rooting. This fine plant is sometimes mislabeled in the trade as
Justicia coccinea. Needs afternoon shade, is evergreen for me. As you
have observed, butterflies and hummingbirds love it. Listed as hardy
from Zones 8 thru 10.
See See http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/images/odo_str.jpg
A form with variegated leaves, O. strictum variegatum, is available, but
it tends to revert.
It sounds like your pink flowering specimen may be a new selection by
John Criswick, which has much wider, more dramatic foliage than O. s.
variegatum and has speckled pink flowers, instead of the usual red
spikes.
Best,
Julie Finn
Sarasota, FL
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