A rare and critically endangered plant, which everyone should grow. Native only to a tiny island off Chile.
Unfortunately ...Read Moreseeds are hard to obtain, was luckly to get it through ebay.
Plant is monocarpic, this is, grows a long stem for many years, then flowers and dies. Overall easy to grow, but as it is not frost-hardy needs to grow indoors in a large pot, and I am not sure whether it could flower with those conditions. Transplants well.
Yes, attracts aphids but its not a big deal. Keep moist, bright indirect sun, or artificial light. Constant mild temperature 20ºC is better. I read that you can propagate it by air layering, but the cut part never regrows, so be careful not to break its stem.
What is sad is that if one of us can't get to produce seed and establish the plant in some subtropical frost-free location, then we will probably lose this plant to extinction with a few decades.
Member of the sunflower family.Supposedly was reduced to four specimens in the wild during the eighties from ferral rabbits and goats.Lea...Read Moreves will die in frost but stalks are hardy to a few degrees below zero. Grows one leaf at a time from the stalk of the last leaf. If this is allowed to die it will branch and lose what i would consider to be the superior monocarpic form of growth. Needs a large container to attain its true potential and also alot of water.Have found leaves will wilt in hot midsumer sun but otherwise takes full sun from a very early age. Prone to aphid infestations under new forming leaves.
The appeal in this plant is not for the plant itself,
for it is rather plain. With large, green, leathery leaves
that are...Read More glossy, nor it is not in the beautiful, dandilion like
orange flowers that hang pendunt upon the stalks. The appeal is in
the rarity and expence of the plant. Despite being easy to grow the
seeds are incredibly expensive (the four I have came from six seeds
that cost £20). Germination is easy, soak the seeds over night in warm
water and then sow upon the surface of coir based compost (2 parts coco
compost, I used reptile coco fibre, and 1 part seed compost). Water
the seeds and then place in a warm, sunny place. Germination should occure
within 2-3 weeks. I experienced a 100% germination rate. The only
problem is that the seedling are prone to black spot and aphids. I lost
two plants because of this, but the remainer of the seedlings suvived.
A very rewarding plant that is fast growing and easy too grow and is
worth growing if you can obtain the seeds!
This plant grows well in the San Francisco Bay Area. It may also grow in Zone 11, but the Bay Area has Zones 9A-10A.
A rare and critically endangered plant, which everyone should grow. Native only to a tiny island off Chile.
Unfortunately ...Read More
Member of the sunflower family.Supposedly was reduced to four specimens in the wild during the eighties from ferral rabbits and goats.Lea...Read More
The appeal in this plant is not for the plant itself,
for it is rather plain. With large, green, leathery leaves
that are...Read More