Hemiboea strigosa

Hemiboea strigosa is another little-known member of the gesneriad family that makes a superb woodland perennial. Native to low mountain forests in China's Guangdong, Hunan, and Jiangxi Provinces, Hemiboea strigosa grows among the rocks. The fleshy stalks grow upright to 1' tall, while the plant spreads slowly via stolons to form a 3' wide patch in 3 years. Starting for us in early October, the stalk tips are adorned with 3-6 pendent pink tubular flowers, each with a heavily spotted red throat. So far, our plants have endured 16 degrees F with no problems. Slightly moist, well-drained soils are best.