Description
Symphyandra –
There are about 12 often monocarpic, sometimes rhizomatous perennial mostly grown as biennials, in this genus. They are found naturally occurring in mountains in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus to Central Asia and Korea. They are grown for their tubular-bell-shaped or bell shaped flowers, borne on branched stems in racemes, corymbs, or panicles over long periods in summer. Leaves are long stalked, often heart shaped, toothed, hairy, and mainly basal. Grow in a herbaceous or mixed border, or rock garden. They are very free flowering, but usually short lived. May self seed.
Grow in light, fertile, well drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Often die after flowering.
Prone to slugs and snails.
S. hofmannii – This rosette forming, usually short lived often monocarpic perennial from the former Yugoslavia and Bosnia, grows 12-24″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces spearhead shaped, toothed basal leaves, 6″ long, with winged stalks. Erect stems bear a few alternate, shorter stalked leaves, and, from early to late summer, they bear terminal racemes of long lasting, pendent, tubular-bell-shaped, hairy, creamy yellow flowers, to 1 1/4″ long.
Zones 4-7
