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    Home » Gardening » Flowers

    Jacobinia-A New to Me Perennial

    By: Jane · Updated: 10 Jun, '18 · This post may contain affiliate links · 28 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    Hi there, everyone! I've been taking a little blogging break for a few weeks but I'm back today to share with you a "New-to-Me" perennial that I've just planted. I'm finding that it's a plant with many names but the one that the lady used who sold it to me is Jacobinia. 

    Jacobinia is a "new to me" perennial

    Jacobinia

    Its botanical name is Justicia carnea  but it also is known as the plume flower, flamingo flower, Brazilian plume, pine-bur begonia, feather duster plant, and jacobinia. It is a tropical plant that's native to Brazil. 

    And I had never seen or heard of this plant until last week when I saw several of them at our local farmer's market.

    I was immediately attracted to the pretty pink pinecone shaped flowers and I purchased 2 of them. Each cost $6.99. 

    The lady at the farmer's market told me to give it full sun and that it was a tender perennial in our area. She said her plants survived our past cold winter with heavy mulching. (I live in zone 8.) 

    One of the joys of gardening is finding new plants but since I didn't know much about jacobinia, I decided to put them in containers until I learned more about their growth habit.

    Jacobinia planted with trailing vinca in a container

    I just happened to have 2 large vintage planters that we had purchased from a picker who found them at a very old house. He said that they had to be at least 50-75 years old. They are made of concrete and are extremely heavy. 

    So I finally got them planted this past Friday. 

    When I first purchased the jacobinia plants, they had many more plumes on them. But the heat and dry weather of this past week must have taken a toll on them. I have since learned that I need to pinch the spent flower heads to encourage the development of more plumes. 

    Jacobinia underplanted with trailing vinca

    Since the jacobinia plants are still small, I chose to underplant them with trailing vinca. I was delighted to find some at a local garden center. It is hard to find the trailing kind since the plants were afflicted with a virus for many years. 

    You are probably wondering how large will the jacobinia plants get, right? Well, so am I, but I have read that they can grow from 24-36 inches tall. 

    If they outgrow my vintage containers, I'll just plant them in the ground. 

    Although the lady at the farmer's market told me that they like full sun, I decided to put them where they will receive partial shade after reading more about them. 

    Jacobinia has pretty plume shaped flowers

    As a bonus, they attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. I sure hope that they do well for me.

    And since I'm talking about flowers today, I thought I'd show you some other pretty flowers that I have growing near where I planted the jacobinia. 

    Pink flowers planted in a whiskey barrel

    Nearby is our whiskey barrel planter filled with an assortment of pretty flowers. 

    Mandevilla growing on a trellis

    Every year I plant a mandevilla vine on the trellis in the barrel. Some years it is red or white, but this year I've gone with a pink theme. 

    Pink mandevilla and vinca planted in a whiskey barrel

    Here you see more vinca but it is the regular kind, not the trailing. 

    Face at the top of a trellis

    At the top of the trellis is a face. The leaves seem to be hair for this iron lady! 

    Flower baskets on wooden posts

    Nearby are the flower baskets on wooden posts planted with an assortment of pink flowers. 

    Flower basket mounted on a wooden post

    There are a total of 5 flower baskets, and each one is planted with a slightly different combination of flowers. Having the flowers up high makes it easy for me to deadhead them. 

    Jacobinia planted in a container

    The new jacobinia plants are in front of our storage building. I can't wait to see their growth over the summer.

    Now, is it my imagination, or is that planter leaning a bit? Gosh, I hope not because it will take the two of us to straighten it. Those planters are THAT heavy! 

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    1. Lisa

      June 04, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      Beautiful! How do you transplant the Jacobinia? Or get a cutting from an existing plant?

      Reply
    2. Bonnie

      May 16, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      I just acquired my first Jacobinia. Moved to west coast of Florida (zone 9B) over a year ago, had been reading about this gorgeous plant, but could never find one until last week ago. No full sun for these guys, They like shade. Beautiful flowers. Good luck with yours!

      Reply
    3. Jean Windham

      June 16, 2018 at 12:45 pm

      What a beautiful plant. I have never seen this plant and I am a true plant lover. I am specially love exotic plants although I don’t have any in my home. I can’t wait to see what kind of luck you have with this one Jane. Enjoyed the read and information about the Jacobinia. Jean

      Reply
    4. AnnMarie

      June 13, 2018 at 5:44 pm

      I have never heard of Jacobinia either but it is pretty. I am interested to see how it does for you. There's nothing worse than losing new flowers to the weather!

      Reply
    5. Kathleen Viar

      June 12, 2018 at 5:31 am

      I'm in zone 8b and I have had a jacobina for about 8 years and it does get nipped by the cold but every year it comes back and I absolutely love... And yes it needs to be mulched to keep moist so they can produce heavily during the summer... I love mine... Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 12, 2018 at 10:57 pm

        That is so good to know, Kathleen! I'm thinking that I need to go back and buy more of these plants.

        Reply
    6. Mary

      June 11, 2018 at 10:42 am

      Jane your plants are all beautiful. I am getting an education here. Before this project, I had no idea what the names of the flowers were, but now I'm actually starting to recognize them. Your garden is bursting with festive color.

      Reply
    7. Mary Ryerson

      June 11, 2018 at 7:52 am

      As long as you didn't buy it in the big box stores or from a Landscaping Supply or farm that uses pesticides. They've been banned in Europe but the u.s. is still using a type that is an actual living organism which attacks the neurological system of insects and bees including our honey bees and bumblebees

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 11, 2018 at 11:26 am

        No, I buy my plants at the farmer's market and a local nursery. I do not buy them at the big box stores because they have been treated with neonicotinoids which have been associated with bee colony collapse. I'm very concerned about the problem. When I have spoke at a local garden club, I talked about it with them and they were unaware!

        Reply
    8. Eilis@MyHeartLivesHere

      June 11, 2018 at 7:17 am

      I just love your whiskey barrel flowers. Wow! They are gorgeous and very inspiring.

      Reply
    9. Judy Sloan

      June 10, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      I have had Jacobinia since 1972 (the same two plants!). It is NOT a sun-lover...for best performance, beautiful blooms and dark green leaf color, it needs to be in shade or semi-shade. It requires a LOT of water, but will revive quickly if it gets droopy. Here in NC Zone 8.5 (Coastal NC) it has to he brought inside for the cold months. It responds beautifully to being cut back if it gets leggy, and is also REALLY easy to root from a cutting.

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:53 pm

        Judy, I'm so glad to hear from someone who has grown this plant! I did notice right away that the plants seemed to need a lot of water. I live in South Carolina in zone 8 and with your recommendations, I may replant them in containers that I can move more easily! And it's good to know that they can be propagated so easily!

        Reply
    10. Carol@BlueskyatHome

      June 10, 2018 at 6:44 pm

      You definitely have a green thumb. Thanks for sharing about this beautiful plant.

      Reply
    11. Barbara G. Richman

      June 10, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      How pretty!! What fun to find a new plant! It's new to me, also You're other plants are looking great, Love your combinations.
      Babs

      Reply
    12. Kim

      June 10, 2018 at 11:30 am

      Hmmm...new to me, too. I've never seen it before and I am always on the lookout for interesting perennials. Thanks! By the way, your whiskey barrel is outstanding!! Enjoy the view!

      Reply
    13. Libby

      June 10, 2018 at 9:59 am

      I’ve heard of it but never grown it. I planted a new one (to me) in a new gorgeous huge container my sister had given me: Duranta!! Mine is a « standard » (also a first for me!) with gorgeous blue flowers all over it!!! Such fun to try new things ????

      Reply
    14. Gayle Kirby

      June 10, 2018 at 9:38 am

      I have never seen the Jacobinia plant before...thanks for sharing it with us! Your yard is just beautiful!!!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:49 am

        Thanks so much Gayle! I just have to have flowers even though they take time to tend!

        Reply
    15. Katie Mansfield

      June 10, 2018 at 9:15 am

      How fun. I hate that Vinca gets viruses. It's one of my favorite flowers. I love finding new plants. Enjoy your Jacobinia.

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:49 am

        Me, too, Katie! That's what makes gardening fun!

        Reply
    16. Stacey @ Poofing the Pillows

      June 10, 2018 at 8:15 am

      You definitely have the touch! I'm not familiar with jacobinia either but like you, I'm always on the hunt for something new and interesting. Your posts have always been a favorite of mine! And that whiskey barrel combo is breathtaking!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:50 am

        Thanks Stacey! The petunias in the barrel are volunteers! Don't you just love it when that happens?

        Reply
    17. Sherry

      June 10, 2018 at 8:08 am

      I usually always have a Mandevilla in my back yard every summer but haven't gotten one yet. What a showy flowering plant. I always enjoy what you have for us. Keep it going please. Enjoy your summer.
      Sherry

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:51 am

        I have been slow to get everything planted this year, too. I'm going out today to find 2 red mandevillas.

        Reply
    18. Tammy

      June 10, 2018 at 7:50 am

      You flowers are so pretty! I have never seen the Jacobina plant before. Very unusual and pretty. Will have to keep an eye out for one.

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:53 am

        I think they are more common in places like Florida where they are a true perennial. But hey, they're new to me, too!

        Reply
    19. Patti @ Pandora's Box

      June 10, 2018 at 7:18 am

      Your flower are so pretty...I especially like the pink assortment!! The jacobinia is really unique. You have a flair for grouping different flowers together - when I try it, it doesn't seem to work 🙁

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        June 10, 2018 at 9:54 am

        I get my flower gene from my mother. She has always grown beautiful flowers. That's why I have the barrel and the pots on posts near her apartment. She's 95 now but still enjoys the flowers.

        Reply

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