A fast-growing small perennial with large, bright watermelon red/pink hibiscus-like flowers and large variable shaped lobed leaves. During the dry winter season it will often die down and store it’s energy in the tuber. As soon as the warmth and summer rain hits it will send out new growth and flower quickly. The flowers only last a day but you get so many on multiple stems that you won’t notice as every day brings a new bloom or several if you’re lucky. In the wet season it can self seed but that’s okay by me as it looks beautiful when planted in drifts.

A stunning flower for tropical pollinator gardens and floral displays. Grow it in groups or swathes for enjoy the dramatic flower. It’s a reasonable poppy substitute for north eastern Australia and the large lobed leaves are also a useful contrast to other small leaved plants. It would look stunning planted among a border of white flowering scaevola or in a feature bed ringed by a low midyim berry hedge.

Prefers seasonally moist(summer), well-drained soils and needs full sun. Regular watering is necessary for tuber growth and flower production. I did try to grow this once in Sydney without success – it really needs the heat and humidity to spur it into action. Perhaps it could work in the more humid coastal areas in New South Wales. If you have tried it in these areas please let me know how it went!