We first posted an image of Hemiboea cavaleriei last year, but wanted to share an update image, now that our clump is more established. What an amazing show for the October and November woodland garden, until a frost arrives. Our plant gets a couple of hours or morning sun, then shade in the afternoon, where it has thrived. This African violet relative hails from alkaline mountains in Southern China and adjacent Vietnam. Hemiboea cavaleriei was named in honor of the intrepid French Missionary/botanist, Pierre Julien Cavalerie (1869 – 1927), who spent much of his life discovering and documenting plants in Southern China. This is only one of an astounding 230 plant species named in his honor. In our garden, we’ve also found it to be a great plant to feed native bees in the fall. Hardiness is at least Zone 8-10b, and probably 7b, at least.
Does it need lime/alkaline soils? Or is it ok with regular slightly acidic east coast soils?
Our garden plants are growing fine in a pH of 6.2
Thanks. Any hybrids in the work?
We have not had the staff time to try breeding these yet, but the potential would be very interesting.
The PDN catalog lists its southern hardiness as 9B, but this article says 10B. A typo? or a revised estimate of zone?
Good catch. It should be 9b, since we simply haven’t received any reports from further south yet.