Hemiboea

This gesneriad comes from southern Jiangxi Province in China via an Atlanta Botanic Garden collection. Hemiboea defy what we know inherently to be true by being surprisingly hardy when they look very tender. Broad leaves with large foxglove-like white flowers spattered in red dots with a yellow throat. This should do fine down to zone 8b and probably lower especially with mulch - we've seen a different species of Hemiboea in Ann Arbor.

We're smitten by gesneriads - the African Violet family - and especially those with some hardiness, which can be grown outside in our area with some consideration to siting and winter protection. This was shared with us by Peckerwood Gardens in Texas where it is very happy. White flowers red inside in the fall are bit of flora exotica. This Taiwan native can take dips into the teens especially with some mulch.