Titanotrichum oldhamii

Titanotrichum oldhamii is an amazingly hardy African violet relative, originally shared in 2002, by our friend, Georgia gardener, Ozzie Johnson. After growing this Asian gesneriad in the garden, it was great to finally see it growing wild in Taiwan in 2008, where it clung to nearly vertical rock cliffs. The fuzzy basal leaves make a nice small clump to 12" wide which, in September and October, is topped with 1' spikes of dramatic, golden yellow bells with vivid, cinnamon-red centers. One look at a flowering Titanotrichum oldhamii will bring you to your knees faster than a passing pope...we promise! Titanotrichum oldhamii has survived 0 degrees F in our garden with good winter drainage.