Persian shield

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. Strong afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, while deep shade reduces their purple colour.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water when the surface begins to dry; containers may need daily checks in hot weather.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Use a free-draining potting mix in containers.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Large, pointed, slightly puckered leaves with an iridescent purple and silver sheen, dark green veins and purple undersides.

Growth

Fast in warm weather

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.2 ft (0.67 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.8 ft (0.84 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (1 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (1.1 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant outdoors only after frost risk has passed and nights are consistently warm.
• Water at soil level before the root ball dries out completely; empty standing water from saucers.
• Feed container plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every two to four weeks during active growth.
• Apply a light organic mulch around outdoor plants, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Bring containers indoors before nights regularly fall below 50°F (10°C), and provide bright, indirect light.
• Reduce watering indoors during slow winter growth, without letting the root ball become completely dry.

Pruning. Pinch out shoot tips during spring and summer to encourage branching. Shorten leggy stems in spring as strong growth resumes, cutting just above a pair of leaves.

Spring

Trim overwintered plants, repot if root-bound and resume feeding when new growth starts.

Late spring

Gradually acclimatise indoor plants to outdoor conditions, then plant out once nights are warm and frost risk has passed.

Early summer

Pinch shoot tips and take soft stem cuttings for replacement plants.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently and protect foliage from harsh afternoon sun.

Early autumn

Bring containers or rooted cuttings indoors before chilly nights damage the foliage.

Winter

Keep protected plants warm and bright, water sparingly and inspect for indoor pests.

• Use as the central foliage plant in a large shaded patio container, surrounded by smaller trailing plants.
• Repeat groups through a sheltered tropical-style border to carry purple colour between flowering plants.
• Pair with lime-green coleus or golden sweet potato vine for a strong foliage contrast.
• Place beside broad green elephant ears or ferns to contrast its pointed, metallic leaves with softer green foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Modern courtyard, Urban city garden, Victorian and Small-space.

Plant it with: Coleus, Impatiens, Wax begonias, Elephant ears, Sweet potato vine and Boston fern.

Wildlife: Grown mainly for foliage rather than wildlife value. Its small lavender flowers may attract visiting insects where flowering occurs, but it is not a dependable nectar plant in cool-climate gardens.

• Spider mites cause stippling and fine webbing, particularly indoors: rinse leaf undersides and use insecticidal soap labelled for the pest, testing a small area first.
• Whiteflies gather beneath leaves: isolate affected containers and treat leaf undersides with an appropriately labelled insecticidal soap.
• Root rot develops in persistently wet soil: improve drainage, empty saucers and allow the surface to begin drying between waterings.
• Scorched, faded or wilted leaves can result from strong sun, dry roots or cold: provide afternoon shade, steady moisture and protection from chilly nights.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people, but species-specific safety information is limited. No plant part is established as a serious poisoning hazard; it is ornamental, not edible, and chewing plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)

  Purple coleus can have similar colouring, but usually has more obviously scalloped or toothed leaves and square stems; Persian shield has elongated leaves with a distinctive metallic sheen and dark green vein pattern.

• Purple waffle plant (Strobilanthes alternata)

  Purple waffle plant is low and spreading, with smaller, rounder, deeply puckered leaves. Persian shield grows upright and has much larger, pointed leaves.

The common name refers to the shield-like shape and metallic appearance of the leaves, rather than its origin in Myanmar.

Propagation. Take non-flowering stem cuttings in spring or summer. Remove the lower leaves and root the cuttings in moist propagation mix in warmth and bright, indirect light; small rooted plants are easier to overwinter than large specimens.

Accepted botanical name

Strobilanthes auriculata dyeriana Strobilanthes dyerianus is an older name for Strobilanthes auriculata dyeriana.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.