Drive a striking contrast into your sun-drenched landscape with the spectacular 'Onyx and Pearls' beardtongue. This upright perennial turns heads with its rare, deep purple foliage that transitions to nearly black in direct sunlight, maintaining its dark intensity all season long. From this dramatic base, strong dark stems emerge to carry a wealth of soft lavender-white, bell-shaped flowers. Vigorous and highly resilient, it structures your beds with a clean, graphic elegance.
Characteristics
Foliage : Deploys lustrous, lance-shaped, opposite leaves of deep purple that deepen to near-black under direct sun, providing a permanent dark background.
Blooming / Fruiting / Stems : Produces solid, dark, upright stems bearing a profusion of delicate lavender-white blossoms, creating a spectacular inverse bicolour effect.
Light : Requires full sun to maximize and maintain the deep, dark colouration of the foliage.
Habit : Bushy and well-upright, forming a dense, sturdy clump that stays standing without splaying.
Growth : Displays a medium growth rate to reach a height of 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 inches) and a spread of 90 to 105 cm (36 to 42 inches).
Soil : Prefers loose, rich, but above all, perfectly drained soil, as it suffers in stagnant moisture, especially during the winter months.
Temperature : Shows excellent winter hardiness in zone 4.
Resistances : Naturally repels White-tailed deer as well as hare and rabbit due to toxic compounds present in its tissues.
Use
Types of use : Integrate it into mass plantings, position it in the middle of sunny flower beds, or grow it in a large container to create an audacious focal point on patios.
Decorative benefits : Structures the landscape through its stark opposition of light and dark tones, extending visual interest well beyond the blooming period.
Maintenance
Watering : Water regularly after planting, then reduce frequency to allow the soil surface to dry slightly between interventions.
Fertilization : Spread a layer of rich compost at the base of the plant in spring or apply a slow-release granular fertilizer to support robust growth.
Pruning : Cut back spent flower stalks after blooming to clean up the plant and encourage denser basal foliage.
Planting : Space plants approximately 90 cm (36 inches) apart to allow full spreading and ensure optimal air circulation.
Winter protection : Avoid planting in low areas where water accumulates during winter, and apply a light mulch to protect the crown during early frosts without trapping excessive moisture.
Osez créer des associations inédites qui sauront refléter votre personnalité, même si pour cela vous deviez déplacer certaines vivaces pour mieux les mettre en valeur.
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