It was one of those OMG moments during a stroll around the garden late yesterday afternoon. Twelve months ago I moved a two year old specimen of Strobilanthes gossypinus. It was getting a little too much frost so I moved it to a slightly more sheltered location. If you don't know this plant its a beauty! I first saw it in the grounds of Government House in Melbourne. It has large silvery leaves with pronounced veining. The new leaves are golden so it's an intriguing mix of silver and gold! For the last few months the plant has put on a lot of growth and I just figured it was finally settling down into its new location. Yesterday I discovered it was flowering. Oh no! For most people this would be a fantastic event getting an unusual and rare (and precocious) plant to flower but in this case – no. The reason is that I believe this plant is monocarpic – that is, it flowers once and dies! I hope I am wrong but anecdotally other gardeners have said that their specimens died after flowering. Bamboo too is monocarpic. You know the stories you have heard about bamboos all flowering at once and dying are true. But only one species at a time – not all bamboos everywhere. Most references state the flowers of my strobilanthes will be a pinkish colour, but mine is lavender. Exciting times but sad too! :-)
I have just heard from Lyle Filippe at Roraima Nursery in Lara where I got my plant and he said his strobilanthes are flowering too! He said to save some seed.........
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Hey M,
ReplyDeleteWhen i bought this plant some years back I thought on one hand it was the bees knees..on the other i thought maybe not..(fence sitter)..now i have decided its a very dull dog indeed..the axe fell on it......
So did your plant die after flowering? I've just put one in and found your blog post in my search for some info about it. Now I'm wondering what to expect.
ReplyDeleteIts still flowering (mid October) and is covered in flowers. But the leaves look unhappy so I expect its the beginning of the end. I'll write another post about it soon with photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've added your blog to my reader so I won't miss the update.
ReplyDeleteI have some stropbilanthes grossypinus in my garden and they are also flowering and have been told that they died once they hae flowered. Where do I get the seeds from once they start to died down as I'm not too sure and I would very much like to save some, I trust its within the flowers.If you could let me know that would be very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMaxine
Maxine my plant did eventually die - and I pulled it out a few months ago. I couldn't see any seed on it so I plucked some bits and placed them in a paper bag inside. Having just checked the bag it seems like there could be seed within the spent flowers, so I'll have to collect some up and sow it.
ReplyDeleteMine is flowering now. Such a shame as I was hoping to get a few years out of it. Another much larger/older one a few streets away is also flowering. It would be interesting to know what stimulates them to flower.
ReplyDeleteMine flowered and so I cut it back quite harshly once the flowers were done. Now, about 6 months later (and in early summer) there is definitely signs of new growth, lots of new shoots forming.
ReplyDeleteHilary
Can anyone tell me where to purchase this plant or seeds. Help!
ReplyDeleteTry Roraima Nursery in Lara (near Geelong) Victoria. They have a website. Otherwise I know one of the big wholesalers is now selling this so it should be available from any reputable nursery - ask them to order it.
ReplyDeleteI have collected seeds from mine, but now the flowers have finished the plant has dried up. I don't think mine is going to shoot again like Anonymous's did.
ReplyDeleteDid you get your seeds to germinate? I haven't been able to find much info about what they might need. Do you have any advice? Thank you for any hints you can provide.