MICONIA MAGNIFICA

A VERY RARE PLANT, AT LEAST IN THE CONTINENTAL USA, IS THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL MICONIA MAGNIFICA, WHICH CAN GROW TO TREE SIZE. IT HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING AN INVASIVE PEST IN TRULY TROPICAL AREAS, BUT WHERE IT CAN BE CONTAINED--SAY IN A GREENHOUSE AS AT SELBY GARDENS IN SARASOTA, IT IS A REMARKABLE AND TRULY AWESOME TROPICAL. THE LEAVES ARE AMONG THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF ANY PLANT ONE CAME NAME AND CAN GET VERY LARGE. I HAVE GROWN THIS PLANT IN A POT--VERY LARGE--AND IT HAS BLOOMED (BLOOMS DECIDEDLY UNSPECTACULAR). IT ALSO SET SEED, BUT I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD LIKELY BE UN VIABLE IN FLORIDA. THIS PROVED INCORRECT AS I HAVE MANAGED TO GET TWO SEEDLINGS, ONE OF WHICH HAS SURVIVED. THE PLANT IS VERY COLD TENDER AND IT ALSO REQUIRES A LOT OF WATER. PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, BUT WORTH THE SEARCH. AS ROBERT LEE RIFFLE HAS STATED IN HIS SUPERB BOOK ON TROPICAL PLANTS,( AMONG THE VERY BEST BOOKS AVAILABLE ON TROPICALS) "IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE THAT MORE OF THESE BEAUTIES HAVE NOT BEEN EXPLOITED FOR GARDENERS IN FROST-FREE REGIONS."