Fordiophyton faberi

Fordiophyton Melastomataceae

A slightly outrageous member of the Melastomataceae, Fordiophyton faberi looks as though someone has taken a Tibouchina and taught it to survive a Chinese mountain winter. This herbaceous perennial or small subshrub forms upright, four-angled stems clothed in handsome, prominently veined foliage, before producing terminal clusters of pink to reddish-purple flowers in late summer and autumn. The flowers are particularly intriguing, with four long, unequal stamens giving them that wonderfully peculiar melastomataceous appearance. Native to south-central and southeastern China, where it grows in damp woodland, ravines and stream margins from around 500–1800m, it appreciates a humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil in semi-shade. Surprisingly hardy and an excellent late-season curiosity.

Introduction: Described by the Austrian botanist Otto Stapf in 1892, with the type material collected in southern China. The specific epithet faberi honours Ernst Faber (1839–1899), the German missionary and plant collector who worked extensively in China. Fordiophyton faberi was subsequently selected as the type species of the genus in a 2004 study of its nomenclature. 

Distribution: Southern and southeastern China, including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi; typically 500–1800m. 

Growing conditions: Best in semi-shade in a fertile, humus-rich soil that remains reasonably moist during summer. It is particularly well suited to woodland gardens, shady borders and alongside streams or ponds. Avoid prolonged summer drought, although once established it is considerably tougher than its exotic appearance suggests. 

Garden use: A superb late-season foliage plant and an unusual companion for ferns, Arisaema, Begonia and other woodland perennials. The combination of strongly veined leaves and pink-purple flowers makes it especially valuable where something different is wanted towards the end of summer.

Flowering: August–October
Hardiness: H5, approximately -15 to -10°C
Height: 40–80cm
Spread: 40–60cm