Seems like its kinda hard to find any tropical shade plants that produce bright flowers. Not that There is a lot of shade here at the sandpit. But there is a few areas stuck here and there that only get the filtered sunlight for a few hours each day.
I was given this plant which is a Chrysothemis Pulchella or Black 
Flamingo back in December of last year.
Flamingo back in December of last year.This picture is how it looked last December in bloom.
It produces a colorful bloom that looks like a sunset sort of. Some folks call this plant Sunset Bells.
The plant has leathery large leaves that are crinkly looking. The leaves have several colors from copper to dark green with bright purple undersides. It is quite unique looking different than what is 
commonly seen planted in a shade spot.
commonly seen planted in a shade spot.The Black Flamingo has no use for cold weather and this is the same plant on March 2nd of this year.
Seems as though when the cold weather comes around this plant goes dormant and the growth dies off.
Not to worry there is still a tuber under the soil that is just waiting for the place to warm back up. 
Here is the same plant at the end of April after the cold weather had left.
I had stuck the dead looking plant in its pot under some other plants in the full shade. Sure enough the temperature rising brought it out of dormancy and it is back with several new shoots.
You can see the strange leave texture and colors. Cool huh!
Anyway this is the Black Flamingo plant today starting to bloom it' summer sunset bells on three stalks now.
This picture is not the best but it was raining and the camera lens was fogging up from the humidity.
This plant should do well in the South Florida heat this summer.
It likes the shade and is a candidate to by propagated by tuber cuttings. So that means of course there soon will be lots of FREE little Black Flamingos in the sandpit shadows in the future.
And with this guy you can enjoy the sunset anytime it is warm.
--SANDDUNE--
'Sunset Bells' looks as though it would brighten up the shade quite nicely! And those blooms are indeed the color of a sunset. Love the contrast on those black leaves. Great Florida plant!
ReplyDeleteI'm always on the lookout for flowering plants to put in my shady spots ... haven't heard of this one but I'll be looking out for it. It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteLove the color! This plant grabbed my eyes several times when I was wondering around in the HD. But since my garden is really running out of shade area, and the plant was so delicate looking, so I did not buy it! Glad to see all four phases photos. It is nice for you to save the "dead" plant and now it is not only alive, it is brilliant! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking plant. The dark leaves are wonderful and the orange flowers, a definite plus!
ReplyDeleteI've not seen this plant before...very pretty. The leaves are just as attractive as the blooms which brighten everything. I'm glad you took progression photos. I like Bolivian Sunset in my shady area, although your Sunset Bells has a brighter bloom and broader leaves. Nice addition!
ReplyDeleteI'm just impressed you stuck with the dormant plant. Perhaps there is a lesson for me in that. If you had been hasty in deciding that beautiful plant was a goner you wouldn't be enjoying all those sunsets now. It is a very interesting and beautiful plant. Any plant that has colorful leaves AND blooms is a most worthy specimen. Another frugal coup for you!
ReplyDeleteFloridagirl,
ReplyDeleteThis is for sure a full shade plant at least in the intense sun we are getting now. Aside from that it seems to like the heat and humidity just fine.
Bernie,
I can't guarantee the black Flamingo to be Wallaby proof but it should grow well at your place.
Ami,
It's a pretty tough plant as long as it is out of the direct sun here. Like you my shade spots are limited.I set the plant out in the afternoon sun for less than a hour the other day and it was already curling its leaves. After going back in the full shade it recovered quickly. Great for heat, humidity and shade but no South Florida Summer Sun.
Susan,
It is a neat plant as the leaves seem to change color shades at different sun angles.
Kimberly,
I haven't seen this Flamingo around here so it is good to have some unique plants in the garden. This Black Flamingo does have hand size leaves that accent the flower bells.
NanaK,
The thirty day rule - After a plant looks dead wait 30 days before composting it. That rule has saved many plants. Add in the procrastination factor the rule gets streched to mayby 60 days around the sandpit.
I recently noticed a peruvian daffodil (hymenocallis) emerging after a 3 YEAR dormancy... I was absolutely sure that was dead, but i guess it was just gathering its strength!
ReplyDeleteRFG,
ReplyDeleteWow ,that's a long sleep but hopefully it will come back better than ever.