Beautiful plant and picture, Lin.

Have you ever noticed any bug damage on the Persian Shield? So many times, I'll order plants just for their foliage and they're destroyed by insects; right when I need them to look their best!

I'd be very excited to find that this one is not a bug magnet.

Hi Chelle,

I grew Strobilanthes as a container plant for six or seven years, with the pot situated next to a bench in a shady corner of the backyard. I never had any problems with pests but I've read that they can be attacked by whiteflies and aphids, usually if they are stressed from drought conditions. For a more bushy shape they need pinching or they tend to get leggy. I no longer have this plant as it was lost to a winter freeze ... I should have moved it to the porch or inside and forgot.

Thanks, Lin.

I appreciate your help!

I found these offered at a reasonable price, so I may add them to my order.

They also do very well at the Naples Botanical Garden and we have seen no pests on them at all.

Thanks, Hetty.

It's so helpful to have this information!

My feet may be frozen , but my head is dreaming of summer container combos today...

chelle said:My feet may be frozen but my head is dreaming of summer container combos today...

I hope your feet warm up soon Chelle! I'm sitting out on my deck barefoot, in shorts and T-shirt. It's currently a sunny 77ºF here. We've been blessed with nice winter weather this year; my part of Florida has been experiencing temp's 10º above normal for January which is usually our coldest month!

Nice! Very nice! I remember well those gloriously warm Florida winter days.

Temps had soared to a balmy 14 degrees here when I drove to school this morning!

Oh my goodness ... 14º???? Brrrr, that is COLD!

I have Persian Shield here. I usually take a few cuttings and leave the rest out...so far it has come back for me in spite of the occasional hard freeze. No bugs and pretty blooms.

Thanks, Ginger!

How quickly do new plants root? Do you usually start them in water or planting mix?

Never paid attention to how long it takes to root I put the cuttings in water and let them hang out in the GH as I really don't have a sunny window...too many trees.

I'm getting ready to pot these up tomorrow, and I just had to revisit this page to say again: thanks for all the helpful info that's been shared here!

I'll try really hard to keep from sunburning these beauties.

chelle said:I'm getting ready to pot these up tomorrow, and I just had to revisit this page to say again: thanks for all the helpful info that's been shared here! I'll try really hard to keep from sunburning these beauties.