Titanotrichum oldhamii Ampelaster This dazzling canna lily is

This dazzling canna lily is the hottest thing since summertime in Miami

arching scapes of hummingbird-acclaimed pale lavender flowers in midsummer

fleshy stalk (petiole)

it evaded horticultural cultivation until 1992

these evergreen ferns grow on trees and rocks

Titanotrichum oldhamii Ampelaster This dazzling canna lily isTitanotrichum oldhamii is an amazingly hardy African violet relative, originally shared in 2002 by our friend, Georgia gardener Ozzie Johnson. After growing this Asian gesneriad in the garden, it was great to finally see it growing wild in Taiwan in 2008, where it clung to nearly vertical rock cliffs. The fuzzy basal leaves make a nice small clump to 12" wide which, in September and October, is topped with 1' spikes of dramatic, golden yellow bells