beesia
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
A fabulous shade garden perennial recently introduced from China, Beesia has evergreen heart-shaped leaves with a deep lustrous shine. Each leaf is perched on dark purple green petioles (leaf stems) which further emphases the glimmering green leaves. In early summer thin wispy spikes rise above the leaves with small white flowers dotting the stems.
Plant Type: perennial
Foliage Type: evergreen
Plant Height (10-year): 1 ft. 0 in. (0.30 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 1 ft. 6 in. (0.46 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 to 9
Flower Color: white
Flowering Time: summer
Sun/Light Exposure: open to deep shade
Water Requirements: regular watering
Wildlife Associations: bees
Great Plant Combinations:
Great Color Contrasts: chartreuse, silver
Great Color Partners: bronze, burgundy
Beesia prefers a rich well-drained soil in open, dappled, or deep shade. Regular summer watering will keep the plants looking their best during dry weather. It is fairly carefree- the old flower stems can be cut back in late summer and old or damaged leaves can be removed in early spring. Thriving plants can produce seedlings.
Text and photos ©2020 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden