Musschia wollastonii yellow

Description

Musschia wollastonii

Musschia wollastonii, commonly known as the Madeira giant bellflower, is a rare and architectural biennial or short-lived perennial endemic to the laurel forests of Madeira, where it grows on shaded cliffs and humid valleys. It forms a large, luxuriant rosette of long, serrated, glossy green leaves, from which a huge, branching, pyramidal flower spike eventually emerges, reaching heights of 1-2m. The unusual, bell-shaped flowers are greenish-yellow tinged with reddish-brown, appearing in profusion from early to midsummer, after which the plant sets copious seed and dies.

Cultivation requires a sheltered, frost-free position in partial or dappled shade, mimicking its native forest habitat. Rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil suits it best, along with protection from cold winds and hard frosts, which it will not tolerate. In the UK, it is best grown in a conservatory, cool greenhouse, or a very sheltered courtyard garden, or raised from seed as a striking, if fleeting, architectural specimen.