Polemoniaceae

Subfamily Cobaeoideae

Subfamily Polemonioideae

Polemonium viscosum

W/C = Wild Collected

Cantua buxifolia Juss. ex Lam.

Common Name: Cantuta, Sacred Flower of the Incas
Family: Polemoniaceae Juss.

Country of Origin: Andes - Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile
Habitat: mountain valleys of the Yungas

Description: This species grows about 1.8 to 3m high with erect stems and arching branches. The leaves are small, grayish green and rather fleshy. The flowers, borne in late spring, vary in color in shades of purple, pink, white and even striped. Yellow flowers have also been noted.
The legend of the Cantuta is nicely summarized in this article²

Culture: Can be trained as a standard, but flowers emerge from previous seasons growth, so training and pruning should be done after flowering.

USDA Zone: 8-9

Images of this accession: {and/or its current location}
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Accession Data:

Accession # 199800002
Source: Logees
Accession Date: 02-04-1998
Bench: 1315 - NEO:Andean Tropics A
Qty: 2 confirmed on 01-26-2012

Classification:

Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
SubClass: asterids
Order: Ericales
SubOrder:
Family: Polemoniaceae
SubFamily: Cobaeoideae
Tribe:
SubTribe:

References:

Botanica, Turner & Wasson, 1997
Cantuta at AllExperts.com

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