"More winter flowers"

The Acanthus family contains some attractive shrubs for winter blooms.
Sunday, 26 July 2009     

Strobilanthes anisophyllus

We have met a number of winter blooms over the past few blogs, but there are lots more to mention! I have often expatiated on the merits of the Acanthus plant family (Acanthaceae) for Sydney gardens (especially shady areas with pretty ordinary soil), which includes the well-known oyster plant (Acanthus mollis) that grows only too well in our gardens; winter sees some different ones come into bloom. In the recent blog on hot winter colour, I mentioned Justicia rizzinii and Justicia aurea, and now we can encounter some more of them.

An old favourite, the goldfussia (Strobilanthes anisophyllus, ht 1.5m, shown above) has soft mauve flower bells which appear amongst dark purple-suffused leaves in winter and early spring. It comes from the Himalayas. The colour of the waxy lilac-pink starry blooms of the bulb known as sweet garlic (Tulbaghia simmleri, ht 40-60cm) makes it a good companion to grow nearby, as it will also tolerate dry shade. The snowflake (Leucojum aestivum, ht 45cm) is another bulb that is easy to grow in Sydney in shade, and has pristine white nodding bells marked with tiny green spots; these also associate well with the goldfussia's flowers. Both of these bulbs can be left in the ground for a few years and will form big clumps.

Another shrubby member of the Acanthaceae is Christmas pride (Ruellia macrantha ht 1.5-2m), a soft-wooded shrub from Brazil with gorgeous, large, bright purplish-pink flared funnels from winter into early spring. It grows in sun or part-shade. Its petals are exactly the same colour as the winter-blooming bromeliad Aechmea gamosepala (ht 50cm) - also from Brazil - with its thick bristles of purplish-pink bracts tipped with iridescent blue bead-like flowers. Like many members of the bromeliad family it will grow in hopeless, shady corners and even in places where there is hardly any soil, where it can form an attractive, low-maintenance groundcover.

An even more eye-catching member of the Acanthaceae is the frost-sensitive shrub known as Brazilian red cloak (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys, ht 2-3m). It has vibrant crimson bracts in bold spikes held above huge, glossy, veined leaves. The foliage provides a useful tropical-looking effect for the rest of the year, like some of the other members of the Acanthaceae, such as Justicia carnea and Rhinacanthus beesianus. It grows well even next to trees. There are many specimens in the Botanic Gardens in Sydney, where they start to bloom around May and continue through winter.

Another member of the family is the shrimp plant from Mexico (Justicia brandegeeana, ht 1m) which has flowers of lime-yellow or russet red. It is not specifically winter flowering: it seems to be always in bloom. It is tough and shade tolerant. A shrub of the reddish one that I pass on my walk around the neighbourhood grows luxuriantly in the shade of a tree near a big clump of the rhizomatous groundcover Begonia 'Erythrophylla', known as the beefsteak plant, with its big, glossy, reddish-brown foliage, and I always think this is a great combination.

The Acanthus family has much to recommend it as a source of colour for our gardens all year round - but the winter flowering ones are particularly welcome to me!


 Reader Comments

1/4  Sue t. - 2566 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 27 July 2009

My snowflakes are also happy in full sun.

Thanks, Sue; I have never tried them in sun. Deirdre


2/4  Margaret - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 27 July 2009

Loved more winter flowers - gave lots of ideas and plants to collect. I have some lovely Galanthus out at the moment, Sam Arnott. They have bloomed for the past four years. I keep them in a pot, and am too frightened to move them to the garden!

Thanks, Margaret. How wonderful to have the Galanthus blooming so well!


3/4  Margaret - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 24 July 2017

My view of the Acanthus family has not changed, in fact I am more enamoured of this family than ever - it comes a close second to the Begonia family for its range of plants and ease of growing and propagation! I am grateful for your suggestions of plants which compliment each other. I must transplant some Aechmea gamosepala near the Ruellia macrantha and also the white and lilac forms of Tulbaghia. Such a delightful range of plants, I want more and more! Thank you, Margaret; and thanks for being a loyal reader for the past nine years! Deirdre


4/4  Helen - 7256 (Zone:10 - Mediteranean) Monday, 24 July 2017

Not a fan of acanthus family---Acanthus mollis had developed extensive colonies in my garden and when we cut down old trees to let in more light began to self sow prolifically. Have reduced and contained and am now in year 3 of battle to eliminate the "home colonies". In my rich moist soil the roots go down over 4 feet and every tiny fragment reshoots. Acanthus mollis is certainly the bad boy of the family. Most other members of the Acanthaceae family I find are good plants for Sydney gardens. Deirdre


Make a comment

* You can only post comments on Blogs if you are signed in. If you are already registered please go to the Home page and Sign-In first. If you are not an iGarden member please click here to register now.

My eBooks (PDF)

Most-recent blogs

Early-autumn daisies
24 Mar 24
Daisies contribute to the beauty of early autumn in Sydney gardens.

Paradise revisited
17 Mar 24
I revisit a stunning Sydney acreage garden.

A bromeliad solution
10 Mar 24
Bromeliads provide a solution to difficult, dry, shady spots in Sydney gardens.

Refreshing whites for hot days
03 Mar 24
These white flowers add a touch of coolth,

Grooming the garden
25 Feb 24
Prepare your garden for a renewed lease of life in early autumn.

Previously at this time

2011 - 24 Jul
2012 - 15 Jul
2013 - 14 Jul
2016 - 31 Jul
2017 - 16 Jul
2018 - 29 Jul
2019 - 21 Jul
2020 - 26 Jul

Promotions