Conandron ramondioides Noushoku Paeonia The back of the petals

The back of the petals also has a lovely contrasting burnt-maroon flush

but nothing compared to the great foliage

You could have knocked me over when I first saw Hosta 'One Last Dance'

and graceful 2' long pendulous panicles of medium-lavender flowers in summer

the border color often fades by midsummer

Conandron ramondioides Noushoku Paeonia The back of the petalsConandron ramondioides is an Asian gesneriad that thrives, growing on hummocks of moist acidic debris on the surface of rocks between 2,000' and 4,500' elevation in its native China, Japan, and Taiwan. The Japanese common name Iwa Tabako means rock tobacco, referring both to its preferred habitat as well as the shape of the flowers. The 2 3 large finger shaped 1' long basal leaves cling to the rocks, often at a nearly vertical orientation, topped in