Strobilanthes lanata, previousy known as Strobilantes, gossypinus, the Pewter Plant is an evergreen shrub with a neat rounded habit.
Only lives for 2-3years and dies after flowering. The good news is that it grows easily from cuttings so if you love this plant start growing more from cuttings before the plant dies.
It is grown for the unusual colour and texture of its leaves. The young leaves are covered with fine golden brown hairs that give the leaves a felt-like feel. The older leaves are still covered with hairs but they tend to be lighter and even white.
These are very hairy plants the leaves, stems, buds and inflorescense are covered the fine hairs.
It produces flowers during winter and spring, they are quite small and mauve in colour and borne in terminal clusters.
These are excellent compact shrubs for semi-shady areas of the garden, they will happily take morning sun but will not do well in afternoon sun. They grow well in coastal gardens that are protected from strong wind.