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Acanthaceae
Persian Shield Flower
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Iridescent beauty hidden in shadows.
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Genus
- Strobilanthes
- Native to
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Bloom season
- Autumn, Winter
- Type
- evergreen sub-shrub
- Height
- 60–120 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full shade
- Soil
- rich, moist, well-drained
- Water
- moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 10–11
- Lifespan
- short-lived perennial
Did you know
- The plant is mainly grown for its stunning iridescent purple-silver leaves rather than its modest flowers.
- The leaves display a metallic sheen due to a special layer of cells that reflects light like a thin-film interference pattern.
- Despite its common name suggesting Persian origins, it is actually native to Myanmar.
- The small funnel-shaped blue flowers appear infrequently and only on mature plants.
- It was introduced to Western horticulture in the 1890s but only became popular as a foliage plant in recent decades.
Color meanings
Purple
regal mystery
Blue
inner radiance