Zone 9-11 or Houseplant

Persian Shield is a low growing herbaceous shrub native to Burma. It is desired for its iridescent leaves of purple and green with purple bottoms. The leaves have an 'aluminum' color cast when new

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You should grow Persian Shield in the shade or partial shade (or indoors) with moist organic soil with good drainage. Being from Burma, it expects high humidity as well. Grown indoors, add mist

Persian Shield a highly cold sensitive tropical that demands warm to hot conditions, with humidity, and always in the shade

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The plant gets leggy fast so prune often to achieve a more compact appearance and more color because you'll promote more leaves

If you have a happy Persian Shield, you also get flowers.  These Persian Shield blooms popped up in February 2004

There is also Strobilanthes maculatus from the Himalayas which sports green leaves studded with two rows of silver spots / blotches. Nice

Strobilanthes lactatus is from Brazil. It shows deep green leaves with strong white blotches

You may be interested in receiving great tropical plants mail order from Master Gardener. We ship from spring thru fall depending on the weather up north. If you want to be on our e-mailing list to be notified of plants, please click here for details of our special plants. Thank you