Conandron ramondioides 'Noushoku'

Conandron ramondioides is an Asian gesneriad that thrives, growing on hummocks of moist acidic debris on the surface of rocks between 2,000' and 4,500' elevation in its native China, Japan, and Taiwan. The Japanese common name Iwa-Tabako means rock tobacco, referring both to its preferred habitat as well as the shape of the flowers. The 2-3 large finger-shaped 1' long basal leaves cling to the rocks, often at a nearly vertical orientation, topped in very late spring with 10" stalks, each ending in terminal cymes of unusual star-shaped flowers that to us, resemble solanum. The cultivar Conandron ramondioides 'Noushoku' is a purple flowered clone. Reportedly the young leaves are eaten both fresh and cooked, but take it from us...don't bother. In the garden, moist, gritty acidic soils that resemble decaying rock are best, and in winter, keep the crown of the plant relatively dry.