Phillipine Violet Shrub

I planted 7 seeds today of the Philippine Violet Shrub. Seed packet said soil had to be at least 78 degrees.

Philippine Violet, Barleria cristata. The dark green foliage is very attractive and virtually pest and disease free. But it’s in late summer to fall that the real show begins, as the upright plant stems load up with an abundance of lavender flowers that last until frost.

I will keep you posted. Wish me luck. I got the seeds from Onalee's Seeds. Great place for unusual seeds.

This is the photo furnished by Onalee's on the web.

Another plant for the garage garden during the winter.

Sharon, I am in Florida, climate zone 8b and this plant is ground-hardy for me - freezes back and comes back in the early spring - you are in the same zone, so you should be able to grow it outdoors, in the ground, with mulch, if you wish.

If you would rather have cuttings, I will send you some for a priority stamp - JLMK.

Western zone 8b and Florida zone 8b aren't the same unfortunately--while the lowest temperature you'll see in any given winter is the same (hence them being in the same zone), in the west we tend to get close to that low on many more nights during the winter and prolonged exposure to temperatures like that has killed many things in my garden that are supposed to be hardy to zone 8 or 9 and do fine for people in Florida & the south who are in those zones. If you end up with multiple plants it's certainly worth experimenting and trying it outside, but I'd keep at least one indoors over the winter just to be safe.

I did not know that! Thanks - good information.

Kay, you have humidity where here it is normally under 5%. We had a mild winter last year and my Queen of Sheba did not freeze back. Last winter the bougainvilleas lived through the winter. The year before, they froze all over town. I use the 3rd car part of the garage for my zone pushing plants.

Here you never know if our low is going to be in the 30s or the teens.

Kay, thanks for the thought of cuttings. I will try the seed first. When is the best time to do cuttings. I saw this plant on DG about 3 years ago and have coveted it ever since.. Have not seen it here.

ecane3, thanks for your input. Sharon