Holmskioldia sanguinea

The Chinese Hat Plant is a viney shrub native to the Himalayas and southeast Asia. Leaves are thin, green, several inches long and 2 inches wide with a long tip and serrated edges. They are borne opposite or in whorls on long willowly stems which can be trained up on a fence or support. Their ornamental feature is the orange flowers which appear in the fall. These are shaped like a Mandarin hat with a slightly cupped flat circular base and a projecting flower in the center. This plant is a great ornamental for zones 9 and 10 and for protected spots in zone 8 where it will freeze down in winter but re-grow and flower the next fall. Additional photos courtesy of KT Wursten.