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Turquoise Puya

Lopezia longiflora

This is a rare look at the beautiful Lopezia longiflora from mountain forests in Mexico.  This unusual relative of Fuchsias blooms throughout the year, with showy, scarlet blossoms that attract hummingbirds.  It is almost never seen in cultivation, but it's a fantastic plant that deserves to be widely grown.  I don't know anyone currently offering it.

Lopezia longiflora

Lopezia longiflora is an evergreen bush that grows to about 7 feet tall and wide here in San Francisco, but feel free to prune it to any size you wish.  It flowers most months of the year for me, including winter.  At 2 inches long, the blooms are unusually large for Lopezia species, most of which have small blooms (like my Lopezia hirsuta).  It's hard to capture the 3-dimensional nature of the blooms in photos, but they are well-shaped and very graceful.  As an added bonus, they are tipped with purple pollen!

Lopezia longiflora

 I have no information about its temperature tolerances.  I suspect it can handle warm climates, but consider it experimental in consistently hot conditions, particularly if nights are warm.  I don't know if it can survive more than a light, brief frost.  In the right conditions, it is vigorous and easy to grow.  It likes part sun or filtered sun.  Some afternoon shade might be needed in warmer conditions.  Use a well-draining soil mix that's kept evenly moist.  Occasionally prune back the branches to keep the plant compact and looking good.

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Rare and exotic plants

Turquoise Puya

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