a variable wonder with enough white colorations to be seen in the shade and with enough candy colored red splotches to make it yummy looking!
Spectacular, colorful South American native, suitable for full shade, but also performed very satisfactorily with a constant, tiny bit of drip irrigation in our full-sun garden. New hybrids (Florida series) are being bred with more substance and thicker leaves to help withstand the hot summer sun so they can ultimately be planted anywhere! We've also found that the leaves work remarkably as filler material in flower arrangements and make a right proper 'cut and come again' plant. The only finicky thing about them is that they HATE being planted in cool soil, but should be planted right away when you receive them. So you need to start them inside in little pots, giving them base heat (heating pad, heat tape, etc.). Once the ground warms up to ~60ï¿.5F at ~6"'s, it's a good time to plant them. Gives lasting color all summer everywhere and is less expensive than an annual! (Tip: It will kill you to do it, but when the first sprout emerges, break it off! It will encourage your plant to give you many more leaves than it would if you let it grow on its own!) Top sized #1 tubers are about 1 1/2 -2 1/2" in diameter; plant 1 per sq. ft.; zones 10-11; super summertime performer in any area that has summer heat.
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