Campylandra wattii

(aka: Rohdea wattii, Tupistra wattii) Campylandra wattii is a perennial that few people have ever encountered, but you may know its close cousins, aspidistra and rohdea. To our knowledge, Campylandra wattii is one of the only winter-hardy members of the genus, surviving for us since 2007, with winter lows of 7 degrees F. In the wild Campylandra wattii can be found at elevations up to 9,000' in Southern China, Bhutan, and India, where it grows in moist, densely shaded forests. In the garden, Campylandra wattii forms an often solitary, finger-sized, upright stalk, ending in 2-3 terminal evergreen leaves. The small rohdea-like flower spike adorns the clump in late winter/early spring. This is a true bio plant (botanical interest only), but one that collectors of the unusual won't want to be without.