Hardiness zones
Sunset All
USDA All
Landscape Use: Cool season foliar garden accent, massed plantings for formal gardens
Form & Character: Formal, colorful, rounded, stiff
Growth Habit: Evergreen herbaceous annual or biennial (to 18" height) with bolting flower habit
Foliage/Texture: Ovate to orbicular leaves 3-5" long. Leaf margins strongly revolute to crinkled, coarsely serrate, foliage variegated either purple or white, coarse texture
Flowers & Fruits: Bolting reproductive habit during spring is ornamentally undesirable. Bolting encouraged by lengthening days and warmer weather signals end of usefulness in landscape.
Seasonal Color: Winter accent in Phoenix
Temperature: Ideal range is from 20 to 80oF
Light: Full sun for best foliage color.
Soil: Tolerant, though rich organic garden soil is best.
Watering: Regular garden irrigation.
Pruning: Remove emerging flower bolts to prolong landscape use in cooler climates, otherwise none required.
Propagation: Seed
Disease and pests: None
Additional comments: Outstanding landscape cultivars include 'Dwarf Blue Curled' (purple foliage) and 'Dwarf Siberian' (white foliage). Great formal winter garden accent for lower desert landscapes.
