Purple Chinese Hat, Tahitian Hat Plant, Parasol flower (Holmskioldia tettensis)

Purple Chinese Hat, Tahitian Hat Plant, Parasol flower
Holmskioldia tettensis

Great butterfly attracter

I love the color combination in the blooms. Thanks for posting this plant!

I think it's beautiful, too. Meant to post it on the plant file, but forgot where I was. Thanks for responding, or I never would have known where it went.
MN4

Thanks for posting this photo. I was beginning to think I'd purchased something last fall that didn't exist elsewhere! This looks just like my plant! I cut it back to two central stalks early this spring (don't ask me why...should've tried rooting those cuttings, too), and it's leafing out OK, but it has a very symetrical shape... Just branches on either side straight out from the main stalks. I've pinched the ends to help them branch, but it still looks so "flat". What can I do to help it put out new shoots from the bottom? I want to see maximum bloom because they're so pretty! And, thanks for posting the blooming period...I was beginning to think it would NEVER bloom again!

Plants in this family should be encouraged by cutting off an entire branch all the way to the base. It will come out with several long, arching branches. If you cut off a branch half way it will look stubby and ruin the graceful shape of the shrub. Try pruning out old wood all the way down. MN4

AWShucks,

If you still look at this thread would you tell me how your plant did in the winter freeze? We are about 40 miles North of Houston...A little colder than you probably.. Did you cover yours..? Did it die down?
We just got this plant and we too had no idea what it was..The botanical name the nursery gave me was way off base.
Thanks to a Dave's subscriber in Calif for ID
'ing it for me..

Hi Princess,
I live in Zone 9a, but my yard has some protection. We did have 2 mornings with light frost, but no freeze. This plant is on the south side of my shade house, so it is protected from the frost. Our winters are usually pretty mild for this zone. My plant is still blooming since I sent the photo in May. I can hardly believe it.

Oh, there was no damage from the cold, but it did stop blooming. That could be attributed to a change of position in the yard. It got less sun for a while.

Good luck with yours.

MotherNature4,
Thanks for the information..We'll take some cuttings, just in case and try to root them..Also glad to have the pruning tips..We didn't have a clue..

Glad if I could help. MN4

We live on the coast - Texas City, TX. My plant doesn't require any special care during the winter. It currently grows next to a wooden fence, faces south. Gets sun most of the day. The fence protects it from north wind. I just cut it back in late fall (November or December) and out it comes again in the early spring! Beautiful and very fragrant!

I have had the red-flowered one planted in my yard for 3 years and it hasn't done much - still the same size as it was when I bought it. It has bloomed once - perhaps, because I have it in shade from noon on - I will read up on it and see what it needs.