Chinese Hat Plant
Holmskioldia sanguinea
1 Gallon | Hardiness Zones 8-10
From the warm lower slopes of the Himalayas, where they scramble through scrub from India and Nepal on into Bhutan, comes one of the more theatrical shrubs you can grow. The genus carries the name of Johan Theodor Holmskiold, an eighteenth-century Danish botanist, while sanguinea nods at the blood-red flush the flowers take on with age. For years they sat in Verbenaceae. Botanists have since moved them into Lamiaceae, the mint family, which makes them distant kin to salvia, rosemary, and teak. You would never guess it to look at them.
The flower is the whole performance, and it helps to understand what you are actually seeing. Each bloom opens as a broad circular calyx, flat and faintly cupped like a little Mandarin hat, and from the center of that saucer a slender tube of true flower leans forward. The tube does its brief work and drops. The hat stays. That colored calyx holds on for weeks afterward, so a plant in good form reads as flowering far longer than it technically is, which is a fine quality in something that waits until fall to perform. Most run orange to scarlet, though yellow and bronze forms turn up as well.
The leaves are slim and mid-green, several inches long, drawn to a long tip with a lightly toothed edge, set opposite or in whorls along willowy stems. Left to their own devices they sprawl. Given a fence, a trellis, or a warm wall they climb and arch, and can be trained almost flat, espalier-fashion, into something deliberate.
They want zones 9 and 10, full sun, and soil that drains. In a sheltered pocket of zone 8 they will freeze to the ground over winter and rise again to flower the following fall, which asks a little patience and tends to repay it. When the blooms arrive, hummingbirds and butterflies find the wall before you do.
In a long, mild autumn, against a wall they have been allowed to climb, they hang the fading season with small orange hats long after the rest of the garden has called it a year.
Additional photos courtesy of KT Wursten.
Pickup available at Aiken Nursery
Usually ready in 2-4 days
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| Hardiness Zones | USDA Zones 8-10 |
| Sun | Full Sun and Part Shade |
| Soil | Well-drained |
| Mature size | Height: 6-10 Feet / Spread: 6-10 Feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Seasonality | Evergreen |
Flower, Fruit and Foliage
Here’s a closer look at how we produce our plants:
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
The majority of our plants are carefully cultivated from rooted cuttings, while we also utilize propagation methods such as seed, air layering, and grafting, thoughtfully chosen to suit each plant’s unique needs.
Our plants are cultivated using sustainable practices, including organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management, ensuring they thrive while minimizing environmental impact.
We are proud to contribute to local biodiversity through ongoing donations to the Aiken Arboretum and support for local wildlife conservation efforts, helping to preserve and enhance our community’s natural ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.