Persian shield
Persian shield with white impatiens.
* Common name: Persian shield
* Botanical name: Strobilanthes dyerianus
* What it is: A tender tropical with stunning silvery purple leaves all summer until frost. One of the showiest foliage plants you’ll find.
* Size: Can grow nearly 3 feet and wide by season’s end.
* Where to use: Ideal as a pot centerpiece but also makes a nice solo specimen when spotted anywhere in the ground. Best in morning sun and afternoon shade but can do full sun with adequate water (although color may wash out a bit).
* Care: Not finicky but does best in damp soil with an occasional shot of balanced fertilizer. Main care is snipping back any shoots that grow beyond where you want them. No spraying.
* Great partner: Interplant with dusty miller and white or light-pink petunias or impatiens.
Where can I find a purple persian shield near Pittsburgh?
Joni,
Most independent garden centers carry Persian shield. It’s often in with the annuals or with plants intended for use in pots. Since it’s tender, it’s usually sold starting in May.