Re: Help = Persian Shield, strobilianthos dyeranus

Well, I bought one last year; grew it in a pot in as much sun as I
could give it and it did quite nicely.  This was maybe 3 hours of mid
day sun, rest of the time it was in shade but with open sky.

Managed to get two cuttings to root (secret seems to be to keep them
in an enclosed environment - they are not easy rooters) and have
planted them in the ground this year because someone said they get
quite large in the ground.  Deer munched one and the other seems to
be doing well.  The survivor is getting what passes for full sun in
my garden....maybe 5 hours of sun, but I have it on the north side of
taller plants, so they provide some shade - open sky above, tho'...no
overhanging shrubs or trees.

You want to pinch the stem tips to encourage branching, give it
decent soil that drains fast and don't let it dry out...lovely,
lovely leaf color.  I think it wants some sun, but where you are,
probably not a full day of sun.  Try giving it some morning rays with
shade the rest of the day.

If yours is in a small pot, repot it into a large one.  They will get
18"  or so tall in a good sized pot, and, I understand over 2 feet
tall in the ground....I have not found them terrifically fast
growing.   I had mine in a pot with Artemisia 'Powis Castle'  and
something else, forget what, but the silvery Artemisia was super with
the deep purple Strobilanthes foliage.

I found that they will survive into the 40s F, but frost kills them
pretty quickly.  Could be it would prove perennial for you in a
sheltered spot tho' I think they are rated to z. 10.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: cajun Joe <cajun4@HOME.COM>
> Date: Friday, July 14, 2000 12:25 PM
>
> Help = Persian Shield, strobilianthos dyeranus - a shade loving
plant.
>
> Hello everyone - I just purchased a Persian Shield at Home Depot,
and I was
> wondering if any of you have grown this plant, and can you offer
any tips?
> Thank You
>
> Cajun in New Orleans - zone 9
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