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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Acanthaceae (Acanthusą) |
| Origin: Africa, West (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Blue Violet |
| Bloomtime: Summer/Fall |
| Synonyms: [Leucorhaphis lamium] |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 3-5 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 30-32° F |
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Brillantaisia nitens (Tropical Giant Sage) A perennial herb or subshrub that can grow to 9 feet tall in its native habitat of wet forests of tropical west Africa from Guinea south to West and East Cameroons but likely will grow to about 4 to 6 feet in our drier climate. It has large dark green arrowhead-shaped leaves with winged petioles on prominent square stems with spikes of oppositely-paired large blue-purple flowers that are bi-labiate with large hooded petals in summer to fall. Plant in morning sun to light shade in a area that gets regular irrigation – do not allow to completely dry out. It is listed hardy to 30°F and we have not tested it to temperatures below this. This plant is interesting and has beautiful large flowers and is also used in Africa for many traditional herbal remedies. The common name often given for this plant, Tropical Giant Salvia, is misleading as it is not even in the same family as Salvia, the Lamiaceae but in the Acanthaceae. The genus Brillantaisia has about 20 species that are distributed across tropical Africa and Madagascar. Our thanks to artist and garden designer Marcia Donahue of Berkeley, CA for sharing this plant with us.
The information about Brillantaisia nitens displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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