Piper heydei
25th December 2014
Collected by Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones at Crug Farm Plants under the number BSWJ.10445.
Their catalogue says:
Our first offering of this primitive genus which we collected in the steamy forests of Guatemala in 2001, on our second expedition there.
It was so dramatic that we just had to try it, for its sensational large orbicular rugose peltate foliage, on meter tall bristly knobbly stems of what appears to be an evergreen sub-shrub.
Bearing long palest green to white flexuous pendant catkin-like branched inflorescences, from May ripening by autumn early winter.
Hardiness not tested, yet, but has grown well in a frost-free polytunnel, that is kept shaded all year. In a well drained compost of high humus content kept moist. 7cm pots in February.
It struggled with me in the greenhouse and slowly faded away. I don't think that it was tender, and would try it again given a chance, but it seems to need a hotter summer than I
was providing.
21st December 2016