Achimenes 'Purple King' (Purple King Orchid Pansy)

Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7b-10 12" tall Origin: Mexico

Open House/Web-Only! Over the years, we have found a few of the normally tropical African violet relative, achimenes, that survive in our Zone 7b garden. Achimenes 'Purple King' was the first and still one of the best, shared with us by former PDN staffer James Proctor. The low 1' tall x 1' wide clump of upright stems are clothed with hairy, dark green foliage and smothered with 2" deep-purple flowers from July through September. Plants are late emerging in spring, not appearing before June. Achimenes do not tolerate winter wet soils, so a winter dry spot and a good mulch is recommended from Zone 8 north. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)