A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Persian Shield

I bought a beautiful Persian Shield and am getting conflicting information. Does anyone know if it needs full sun, part or shade? I'm not sure yet whether I'll make it a pot plant or put it in the ground. I live in zone 9, so it could be possible to put in ground (I think). Any help really appreciated. Gata

Hi Gata!

Isn't Persian Shield a beautiful plant? I first saw it at the Missouri Bontanical Gardens three years ago. Well, I just had to have one, or two, or three, or more, so I ended up with four. They really are not hardy for our area but they were beautiful that year. I wanted to keep them over the winter, but they were so big I didn't have anywhere to put them. I hope this helps.

patches

Thanks Patches. Was it because it got too cold that they did not last. I read somewhere that a frost can turn them into black goo. (shudder) And yes they are most beautiful with that silvery sheen.

YES, the cold zapped them. I reslly hated that but there's nothing you can do when you can't control the weather.

The next time you get one, Patches, take cuttings for winter. They root soooo easily in moist soil. Then you can have some year after year.
I'm in zone 9, Ca. and I have them in mostly shade. No black mush here but the snails did a lot of damage.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any way to do that and keep them over the winter when I had them.

Tina, the Persian Shield plants I had and the ones at the Missouri Bontanical Gardens had deep purple leaves with silver. In your picture the leaves look green. Is it a different kind?

I'm having trouble getting true colors with my camera. But they also get greener with less purpling in deeper shade. That pic was taken in January, I think. I will try to get a better pic. But my newest one is that purple with the metallic overlay that we grow them for.

Okay, that explains it! I had mine planted in dappled shade so they got some sun off and on.

Isn't that awesome, Tina! That's why I fell in love with it the first time I ever saw it!

Here it is.

And

Are those the same pictures I saw last night? Or is the first picture taken at a different angle than the one you posted in the CH?