Morina longifolia

This has a curious style all its own and always attracts interest. The leaves are long and just slightly prickled, somewhat reminiscent of those of a thistle. It establishes itself as a rosette of foliage and then sends up its vertical flowering spikes during July. The flowers are small and tubular set in a thorny surround of small leaves, carried in whorls around the upright stems. When they first open they are coloured white but take on rose tints with maturity, finally attaining a crimson hue once they have been fertilized. The foliage, like the flowers, is scented. In full flower this has something of the appearance of a wayward Acanthus. This needs sunshine and very well drained soil, but is not drought tolerant. It doesn't like to be moved once it has established itself.