Norman Winter is a horticulturist. He is a former director of the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens. Follow him on Facebook at Norman Winter “The Garden Guy.” See ...

Recently I stumbled across a plant recipe called “This is the Life.” Not only was it a collection of some of my favorite plants, it was a wake-up call to an old favorite: the Persian Shield. Persian ...

Can you explain how to care for the beautiful Persian shield plant? I planted it last year and now it is woody and leggy. Gina Graham The Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) is one of the most ...

Question for Dan Gill: Can you explain how to care for the beautiful Persian shield plant? It is very woody and leggy. Also, I’d like information on the umbrella plant. —Anne Thibodeaux Answer: The ...

Q: I’m interested in information on the purple Persian shield plant. Is this a perennial, or do you have to plant it every year? Will it stay purple year-round? Does it need sun or shade? How ...

Garden columnist Dan Gill answers readers' questions each week. To send a question, email Gill at [email protected]. Can you explain how to care for the beautiful Persian shield plant? It ...

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere," Vincent Van Gogh once wrote. Could he have been comparing his work with painter's palette or Persian shield, works of art by Mother Nature ...

A. Persian shield is grown for its 8-inch leaves that are silver-purple with a metallic sheen on the uppersides and purple on the undersides. Leaf color varies with available sunlight. Persian shield ...

DEAR JESSICA: I have a beautiful purple-leaf plant I raised from clippings. I would love to know its name and how to take care of it. Is it an annual or perennial? I’m not sure how to handle this ...

Q: I found Persian shield at the farmers market in Gig Harbor. I love the plant, but will it survive our winters? A: Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) has gorgeous purple metallic leaves, which ...