Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Fameflower

Description:

Small hot pink flowers on wiry stems followed by carmine colored seed pods provide dazzling color over lemon yellow fleshy leaves; often treated as an annual as this plant originates in the Carribean

Ornamental Features

Limon Jewels Of Opar's attractive succulent oval leaves remain lemon yellow in colour throughout the season on a plant with a low base above which the flowers rise. It features delicate racemes of hot pink flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. The fruits are showy antique red pods displayed in late summer.

Landscape Attributes

Limon Jewels Of Opar is an herbaceous annual with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Limon Jewels Of Opar is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Limon Jewels Of Opar will grow to be about 14 inches tall at maturity extending to 20 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 20 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 16 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this slow-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Limon Jewels Of Opar is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.