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Rare and exotic plants & seeds
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The cloud forests of Mexico are home to many rare gems, like the spectacular Blue Mist Flower - Bartlettina sordida. This unusual shrub makes massive clusters of fuzzy, bluish-lilac flowers, like big, puffy pom-poms! The attractive leaves are equally huge, getting as big as dinner plates! The plant does best in moderate temperatures and might not thrive in hot areas. If you can provide the right conditions, it's a striking collector's plant, usually only seen in botanical gardens.
Bartlettina sordida is a fast-growing perennial species in the Aster family with an upright habit and woody branches. It gets to 15 feet tall here in San Francisco, although it is easily pruned to any height. Its velvety green leaves give the plant a great, tropical look. The flower stalks rise above foliage in the spring. Each cluster can get up to a foot across! The misty look of the clusters is due to the thread-like stamens on each flower. The blooms have a nice fragrance, smelling somewhat like lilacs.
This species grows best between 40 and 80 degrees F. (4-27°C). I don't think it will thrive in areas that regularly get over 85 degrees (29°C) especially if nights are warm. It can probably handle a few degrees of frost, but i recommend protecting it from all frost. It may be grown indoors in a large pot, provided that the air isn't too dry. Over 40-50% humidity is recommended. Since the plant comes from dense cloud forests, it prefers filtered sun or bright shade. Protect it from strong afternoon sun. It grows best in rich, well-draining soil that is kept moist. This plant may become invasive in parts of Australia and New Zealand.
Photo #4 by Stan Shebs
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