Chinese Rain Bell, Assam Indigo
Botanical: Strobilanthes hamiltoniana
Family: Acanthaceae
Synonym: Strobilanthes colorata, Diflugossa colorata, Goldfussia colorata
Incorrectly named: Strobilanthes cusia
Originating from the warm temperate to subtropical regions of the Himalayas, Burma and Thailand, this plant has proven itself to grow in gardens from the humid tropics of northern Queensland well into the frost free warm temperate climates of New South Wales. It is naturalised all over the tropics and widely commercially available.
It is readily identified by the much branched, diffuse inflorescences bearing purple flowers, and the secondary veins which protrude from the leaf surface. It is a soft stemmed evergreen shrub often seen as an open shrub to 1 to 2 m high.
This plant needs moist soils to grow well. The drooping dark green leaves are slightly glossy with distinctive rib-like veins and edges.
The plant suffers during periods of dry weather and the leaves become stunted.
Delicate purplish bell-shaped flowers are produced on long and wispy inflorescence. The flowers appear to be suspended in mid-air well above and beyond the edges of leaves. Flowers appear throughout autumn, winter and into spring.
Pruning the plant to keep compact.
This plant grows best in deep shape to dapply sun.
Easily propagated by cuttings.
Strobilanthes cusia - What Does It Look Like?
If the above S. hamiltoniana is commonly mistaken for S. cusia, then what does this latter plant look like? The plant named Strobilanthes cusia is widely cultivated in China where it is used medicinally and as a dye plant. The image below is supplied by Deng YUnfei from China.
