Plant was discovered in an elderly Michigan lady's yard in the mid-2000s by a regional grower. The intrigue was due to the presence of mu...Read Moreltiple colors within each flower and flower head, and the presence of flower heads of both pink and blue right next to each other, instead of just on one side of the plant where the soil pH might be different. The subsequently heavy cutting-taking process killed the original plant but the successors lived on, with the plant ending up being named after the credited nurseryman's deceased 11-year old daughter.
In subsequent tests, it was found that the plant performed in such a manner in completely neutral soil. Furthermore, it was concluded that for marketing purposes that an acidic pH would produce more vivid colors while alkaline would produce a more washed-out variety.
Update: In 2015 Dr Mike Dirr (UGA / Bailey Nurseries) ordered a genetic test of this plant, and is confirmed to be IDENTICAL to the heirloom cultivar Mathilda Gutges...which brings us back to where the story began. This is just an old lady's plant and should probably be treated as such. Think of this before you spend $50 on a 3-gallon at an upscale nursery.
Plant was discovered in an elderly Michigan lady's yard in the mid-2000s by a regional grower. The intrigue was due to the presence of mu...Read More