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Mystery Plant!

comments (17) November 1st, 2011 in blogs

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

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2 WAYS TO ENLARGE!Click directly on the photo to enlarge in a pop-up, or click HERE to see this image, larger, in a new browser window.

2 WAYS TO ENLARGE!
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Photo: Michelle Gervais

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While wandering the Enid A. Haupt Garden a few weeks ago (it's part of the Smithsonian Institute on the National Mall in Washington D.C.), I stumbled across this awesome plant rimming the edge of a big container. Anyone know what it is? I have to have it! You ID it and I'll get more info and a source!

posted in: Haupt

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A busy bench demands a busy plant

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Happy Halloween!!

Comments (17)

mgervais writes: Hey all! Thanks so much for IDing this awesome plant. As promised, I found a couple of sources:
http://www.kartuz.com/p/80070/Pseuderanthemum+alatum.html
http://www.glasshouseworks.com/trop-p3.html
I can't wait to get one!

arboretum--this was taken outside, believe it or not. There's a seating area along the side that has tons of tropicals in pots.
Deanneart--sorry, no closeup of the flowers. :-( Posted: 3:40 pm on November 2nd

houseplantguru writes: It does resemble an espicia leaf, but is a chocolate plant, Pseuderanthemum alatum. What a great way to use a beautifully patterned leafed plant, as an underplanting in a container! It really ads a lot of pizzaz to the container. Posted: 2:10 pm on November 2nd

arboretum writes: michelle, i thought the edith haupt garden was only outdoors. this isn't from the indoors botanical garden, also on the mall?
best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/ Posted: 11:38 pm on November 1st

thegardenlady writes: It is indeed chocolate plant rimming the pot. The flaming hanging plant is Begonia 'Bellfire'. Posted: 6:04 pm on November 1st

Bthy2 writes: I'm not exactly sure, but I believe it is some type of Hosta! Posted: 4:30 pm on November 1st

scromer writes: It is a chocolate plant (Pseuderanthemum alatum) and is very prolific in my yard here in Florida. Posted: 12:49 pm on November 1st

NancySpagna writes: This is Pseuderanthimum alatum - the chocolate plant. Zone 9 is best for this plant. A beauty for annual mixes in my zone 6-7 area when creating a chocolate garden!
Posted: 12:29 pm on November 1st

BeverlyJY writes: Ny grandmother gave me a start of this plant many years ago when I was in HS. She called it the Soldiers Choc Plant. Why I don't know. I kept in in my Kitchen window and it grew as big as the window. I Lost it 3 yrs ago in My House fire. :-( Posted: 12:23 pm on November 1st

perennialpal writes: I found a picture of the gorgeous red plant that looks like Ruellia amoena Nees. I googled it under Acanthaceae. Posted: 11:53 am on November 1st

Josefly writes: Yup, it's a chocolate plant. I want one too. But what is that gorgeous red-flowering shrub in the 2nd photo? Posted: 11:16 am on November 1st

Joyce70 writes: I have a very similar plant growing in a pot in my bathroom. It is lighter colored with some silvery in a lighter green. Mine is a very slow grower and now have flower pods coming out. I have assumed is a type of "prayer plant" but don't know. I love it in the pot. Posted: 8:09 am on November 1st

jdigi writes: I agree with WirtalaK. Here is a link. The article says it is a good shade ground cover that can be grown indoors.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/2008/sep08/ChocPts.html Posted: 7:36 am on November 1st

WirtalaK writes: It could be Pseuderanthemum alatum, or chocolate plant (Acanthaceae family).
Posted: 7:26 am on November 1st

perennialpal writes: I have bunches of them. they seed everywhere. A friend gave me one a few years ago and she called it chocolate plant since the leaves are basically brownish tones. It is gorgeous especially when It blooms those great purple little blossoms on long stems. I like it in front of the lime colored pearl of Omar. Sorry I don't have the proper names of either. Posted: 7:02 am on November 1st

Deanneart writes: Gorgeous plant! no idea as to the ID, do you have a closeup of the flowers? Posted: 6:57 am on November 1st

rosebud2 writes: My guess would be that it is an Episcia...not sure which one, perhaps a rare one. Posted: 5:23 am on November 1st

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