COMPANION PLANTS

A member of the Gesneriaceae (African Violet family) native to the China/Vietnam frontier where it grows on mossy cliffs and as an epiphyte in trees. This is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with slowly creeping and pendulous stems lined with pairs of small, softly fuzzy leaves that are broadly elliptic-ovate in shape and with various amounts of cream variegation along the mid-rib. This collection features large “snapdragon-like” flowers of soft yellow in late summer – absolutely stunning. Very new to cultivation. We grow the various different species in moss-lined orchid baskets so the creeping stems can emerge from the sides and bottom. This collection has survived outdoors frozen solid for a week in a hanging basket – amazing. NOTE: This was previously sold as L. petelotii which was the closest known taxon this collection would key to in the Flora of China. It has recently been given specific status as a newly described species from this previously relatively unexplored region.

A member of the Gesneriaceae (African Violet family) native to eastern Asia where it grows on mossy cliffs and as an epiphyte in trees. This is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with slowly creeping stems lined with pairs of small and shiny, coarsely toothed leaves. In late summer, the large “snapdragon-like” flowers emerge, usually white with a pink flush and purplish veins. Rarely seen in cultivation. We grow the various different species in moss-lined orchid baskets so the creeping stems can emerge from the sides and bottom. This collection has survived outdoors frozen solid for a week in a hanging basket – amazing. This is the hardiest of all the species of Lysionotus. Our first offering, great in a shaded rock wall.

A member of the Gesneriaceae (African Violet family) native to eastern Asia where it grows on mossy cliffs and as an epiphyte in trees. This is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with slowly creeping stems lined with pairs of small and shiny, coarsely toothed leaves. In late summer, the large “snapdragon-like” flowers emerge, usually white with a pink flush and purplish veins. Rarely seen in cultivation. We grow the various different species in moss-lined orchid baskets so the creeping stems can emerge from the sides and bottom. This collection has survived outdoors frozen solid for a week in a hanging basket – amazing. This is the hardiest of all the species of Lysionotus. Our first offering, great in a shaded rock wall.

A close relative of the similar M. globosa and M. wilsonii, this species is native across much of southern China into Korea and Japan. This delightful species produces its pendant white flowers in early summer. The fragrant flowers are pure white with a reddish boss of stamens, quite striking. This forms a large spreading shrub to small tree and is great when planted near a path so that you can walk underneath the fragrant pendant flowers. Seedlings from seed collected at the RSBG from plants grown from seed collected in the wild (South Korea).