Hi - I had some persian shield several years ago and loved it, in a semi-shaded area with filtered sun... it lasted for years and gradually declined, I don't know why.... it's sort of like coleus.... I also have some Magilla Padilla which is similar to Coleus, it has beautiful dark red and orange foliage and spreads very well, so you have to keep it in bounds. Most of these types of foliage plants can be rooted by cuttings in a sterile mix... sally

Semi-shaded worked for me too. Got about 4 feet high before it poofed (I think it got too cold). Water-rooted cuttings have worked well. Currently have one at the west side of the house (was in mostly shade with a blast of afternoon sun. It got scraggly, I cut it back hard and it's got new growth on it. The winter sun I think will be OK, come spring I think it will be toast. It does like more water than other plants I have.

Last year in shade...
{{gwi:970072}}

I've got mine in full sun for a few hours a day in the summer and bright shade all winter, when the sun gets lower. I don't water this bed. They did very well there the first couple years, but this past summer, with not enough regular rain, pretty much did them in.
But yes, they root very easily in water.

Ladywinger: LOVE your yard pics!!! Very nice!

Thanks everyone for the info. I guess I will have to relocate it or it will probably die. I'll start some clippings from soft-cuttings too. :)

I have one on the Southeast corner of the house. I found they need a break from the afternoon sun or get very wilty. Mine froze to the ground in March but came back slowly through the summer. I too love the purple metallic color and was happy when it came back. I think I am on the northern edge of where you can really grow them so I keep it sheltered from the winter winds.

Melissa

Another plant that gets lots of color is Blood Leaf.... has abt. the same requirements as Persian Shield and gets abt. the same size.... really a stand-out especially against a dark background, a dark green really pops it...... sally

Thanks Saintp. The corner doesn't look like that at ALL this fall. The neighbor took out all the greenery on the other side of the fence, and I've started trying to fill it back in from my side as a full-sun butterfly garden. Good luck with your Persian Shield - it is a beautiful, unique plant.

Hi
Have fun with it. One of my favorite plants due to adaptability. Only thing I've found it will not tolerate is drying out. The best color was achieved in dense shade
in running water.. There the color becomes so intense it glitters. The more light the paler the color. Even better it can be pruned into any shape form or method.
Might add that in that situation it flowered. The flowers are small inconspicuous and stink!!! lol Fortuneately it doesn't flower in most situations lol.
It also climbed the waterfall rooting at every node and has proven impossible to remove without destroying the falls. has never become invasive in other situations.
In higher light you can get an infusion of a copper bronze color. I even grow it a terrarium and can be kept under 5 inches tall with leaves about a quarter of normal.
My kind of plant !!! gary

Yes, they need LOTS of water.

I planted some in shady areas of my yard and don't have any that took very well, but I am guilty of not watering enough ( they need more water than an australian tree fern as far as I can tell).

They are beautiful, I love,love that color but that one along with the black magic elephant ears, I just have not had luck with, though I am pretty sure it's because they need alot of water.

Best of luck with your new baby and I would definitely not put it in that much sun because especially come summer.

teeka

I'm wondering if it would be a good plant for hanging planter?
Would it drape over the edge of the pot?

No, I don't think it would be good for a hanging planter at all. I have never seen one grow that way.

How well does it do in a dense shade area? For example, would it thrive in 2 hours of indirect sun and mostly shade? I'm trying to plant a tropical shade garden and am experimenting with shade plants.

I'm bummed, right now I have it with some yellow-lantana...darn it...the purple and yellow look so pretty. Grrr...gotta figure out where to move it now!

It might look really good planted with a yellow-yellow greenish `Coleus, and they both like the semi-shade, the yellow would really set-off the purple and you could keep the one that grows taller clipped back, or whatever.... sally

Great idea! I love Coleus also. I think I may need to grow some more Persian Shield. One doesn't seem to be enough! :)

I grew it this year in a bed on the side of the house combined with yellow and red shrimp plants, variegated ginger, red castor beans with blk eyed susan vines growing up them, hot pink hawiian ti plants and red zebrina bananas etc.
The dark purple persian shield really make yellow, pink, orange, and bright red colors pop thus brightening up flower beds that get some afternoon shade.
~Lenette

St. Pt,
Why not put it in shade with a background croton, one of the yellow/green varieties? When you mentioned your garden issue, it made me think of a similar area of my yard, where I already have some interesting yellow/green crotons. So I"m going to put some persian shield back there for color.
S

Does anyone know how will this plant do near a hot tub (about 5ft away)? I doubt much water will hit it, but occasionally there'll be some splashing for sure. I'm in South Beach, Zone 10b, and am concerned about any damage from chlorinated water spray. Thanks! P.S. When I spoke to Homestead, FL nurserymen about the sun vs. shade issue, they all said that in South Florida it needs mostly shade to have the fabulous purple color. Farther north, it will be happy in more and more sun the further north you go.