Back in 2013, we introduced what we thought would be a great seller for folks with a shade garden…another fall-flowering hardy gesneriad, Hemiboea flaccida. Sales were a resounding thud! So, we’re curious why, when it attracts the attention of seemingly every garden visitor during the fall season. The foliage feels like crush velvet, it’s easy to grow, and flowers in the fall, when little else is blooming in the woodland garden. We’re befuddled.
It needs a better name
I was too young to buy then. I would buy it and the fellow gesneriad Siningia araneosa should you bring them back. I see this grows natively in alkaline soils. Have you had to amend or is (slightly) acidic ok?
Our soils are slightly acidic and it thrives here.
Do deer eat it?
Don’t know…sorry.
If I saw that plant at your nursery I would definitely want to know what it was, showing interest, but I doubt I would want to buy it. The leaves look kind of ratty and not all that attractive, and if they look like that at your nursery I would expect them to look even worse in my garden, which does not have a staff of experienced gardeners to care for it. Just a thought.
It looks lovely!
Perhaps it is the fact that in in 9 years it only grew to 18″ that made it less attractive to buyers?
Yes, it will never be a favorite of the quick-turn petunia and pansy crowd.
I bought isome hemiboea and love it. It grows in deep, dry shade that never gets watered and still blooms. It spreads nicely in a tough spot. I’m blessed to have it.
Same growing conditions as H. subcapitata?
Same conditions, but it’s a clumper as opposed to the running H. subcapitata.
Seems like a winner with velvet leaves and maroon-striped flowers. Would be a gorgeous fall surprise in any 7b-9b woodland shade garden. Maybe this blog will boost awareness and sales will soar! What date should we put in our calendars as the ideal order date for the ideal planting time? Thanks.
This post was to gauge interest, which sadly isn’t very overwhelming.
I was going to order one, but life stuff got in the way. When I went to look for it, I saw it was gone. I was thinking about it a few days ago wondering if I could still get some.
Unfortunarely the name sounds like a physical ailment. It is a beautiful plant, try again.
Ouch…a tough audience. No wonder those plant marketing folks are always unethically changing names.
Probably the lack of color? Plus, for me in Downtown Raleigh, the voles love anything in the family and the dry hot summer is I think another problem.
Just say it it grows in dry shade. It will be snapped up.
Yes, it’s a plant for dry shade.
Do the deer eat it I’d love it if I didnt have to spray after every rain??
We don’t let deer in our garden, so we can’t comment on that
Sorry, not for my zone.
Zones 7-9 keeps it out of my SW Pennsylvania woodland garden.