From Amaryllis to Zenobia

By Ms Sherry

Published: June 11, 2009

There is a dainty plant in my garden that waits quietly to be noticed; however, it has an impressive scientific name. I call it simply zenobia. It is also referred to as honeycup or dusty zenobia; its scientific name is Zenobia pulverulenta (Bart. Ex Willd.) Pollard. Whew! I located this name with the help of a google search and a web site from desert-tropicals.com.

This wonderful delicate small shrub grows well in my climate zone of 7A/8B. According to the web site it is suitable for zones 5 through 9. Mine grows in part sun but it gets the sun during the hottest part of the day so you could probably safely say it is a full sun shrub. According to the web site the more sun, the nicer the foliage colors. Zenobia prefers moist soils. When I bought this little jewel so many years ago from Petals from the Past in Jemison, Alabama (a wonderful locally owned garden center), I did not know much about “the right plant in the right place” so I planted it where I had an empty spot which turned out to be a sunny spot close to my irrigation system so it receives ample water. My zenobia is about 2 and a half feet tall (but can grow up to 5 feet) and the green foliage has a dusty look about it. Although the web site remarks that zenobia is deciduous, mine tends to hang on to most of its leaves through the winter. I love it and the wonderful nodding little white flowers that remind me of small bells. I am not sure if this plant is hard to obtain but if you should happen to see it and have the right conditions, please buy one. Its late spring show is one not to be missed.