Calandrinia gigantea with honeysuckle
June 2004
Calandrinia gigantea is an uncommon plant from Chile, in the sa
me
genus as our California native "Red Maids" (C.
ciliata). Chile is one of the few areas on earth with a
Mediterranean climate similar 
to
ours, so C. gigantea does quite well here.
C. gigantea has a striking magenta flower, about 1.5 inches across. The flowers grow on tall (about 24 inch) stalks, blooming in May through September. The leaves are large and fleshy.
At the Garden it is grown as an annual. Hortense advises that you collect and save the seeds that form on the plant for growing new plants the following year.
Last update 04/04/08
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© Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden, 2004
except as noted.