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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nearby is our whiskey barrel planter filled with an assortment of pretty flowers.
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.
Here you see more vinca but it is the regular kind, not the trailing.
At the top of the trellis is a face. The leaves seem to be hair for this iron lady!
Nearby are the flower baskets on wooden posts planted with an assortment of pink flowers.
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.
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!
Lisa
Beautiful! How do you transplant the Jacobinia? Or get a cutting from an existing plant?
Bonnie
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!
Jean Windham
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
AnnMarie
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!
Kathleen Viar
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!
Jane Windham
That is so good to know, Kathleen! I'm thinking that I need to go back and buy more of these plants.
Mary
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.
Mary Ryerson
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
Jane Windham
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!
Eilis@MyHeartLivesHere
I just love your whiskey barrel flowers. Wow! They are gorgeous and very inspiring.
Judy Sloan
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.
Jane Windham
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!
Carol@BlueskyatHome
You definitely have a green thumb. Thanks for sharing about this beautiful plant.
Barbara G. Richman
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
Kim
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!
Libby
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 ????
Gayle Kirby
I have never seen the Jacobinia plant before...thanks for sharing it with us! Your yard is just beautiful!!!
Jane Windham
Thanks so much Gayle! I just have to have flowers even though they take time to tend!
Katie Mansfield
How fun. I hate that Vinca gets viruses. It's one of my favorite flowers. I love finding new plants. Enjoy your Jacobinia.
Jane Windham
Me, too, Katie! That's what makes gardening fun!
Stacey @ Poofing the Pillows
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!
Jane Windham
Thanks Stacey! The petunias in the barrel are volunteers! Don't you just love it when that happens?
Sherry
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
Jane Windham
I have been slow to get everything planted this year, too. I'm going out today to find 2 red mandevillas.
Tammy
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.
Jane Windham
I think they are more common in places like Florida where they are a true perennial. But hey, they're new to me, too!
Patti @ Pandora's Box
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 🙁
Jane Windham
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.