Almanda Blue is probably the world's rarest plant. There is only one plant in existence. It is a female plant. There is no male. All Almanda Blue Plants are a clone of the one shown in the photo above.

Almanda Blue Unauthorised commercial propogation or any sale, conditioning, export, import or stocking of propagating material of this variety is an infringement under the Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994.

As a special as part of our world-wide launch 100 Almanda Blue plants in 14 cm pots are available for order to be picked up from Wirrapunga Indigenous Garden at 7 Williams Road, Aldgate SA 5154.

Buy now if you want one of these amazing plants.
Price: $25 each.
To be collected from Wirrapunga Indigenous Garden as above.

Phone 8370 8387 to arrange a pickup time

To purchase click the "Buy Now" Button
For every plant sold $20 is donated to the Almanda Project.

 

History: Almanda Blue appeared in the Dampland at Wirrapunga Indigenous Garden in the spring of 2013. The Adelaide Botanic Gardens identified it as a variety of Lobelia pedunculata. Although it had the look of Lobelia pedunculata, its flowers were more like Lobelia anceps. Expert opinion was gained on its commercial value. It was said to have ‘high commercial value’ and ‘should sell well in the European Market’. An application was made to IP Australia for Plant Breeder’s Rights and an application was made for a US patent. In August 2016 an agreement was entered into with Australian Horticultural Services for the plant to be sold worldwide. It is envisaged that all royalties received through the sale of Almanda Blue will go towards saving our biodiversity.
Description: Almanda Blue has two distinct types of branches. Firstly it has ‘runners’. Many species of plants have runners. For example strawberry plants send out runners, at the end of the season and a new plant develops at the end of the runner. If you want strawberries rather than new plants the runners are removed. However, in the case of Almanda Blue it is important not to remove the runners. When a runner is planted in a plant pot then new runners develop and hang down the side of the pot. They cover the pot and continue to grow. They can hang down for 60cm or more.
The second type of branches are ‘flowering branches’. These form as lateral branches on the runners and as lateral branches on other flowering branches. When these grow out from the runners they form a dense covering of the pot.
The whole plant can be trimmed so that it hangs down the desired distance. However, if a runner is trimmed off above its lateral flowering braches then it will cease to be a runner and will not grow longer. If it is trimmed well below its lateral flowering branches then it will probably produce a number of runners which continue to grow down.
The flowers are produced along the flowering branches. They have long stems and stand well out from the plant. The numerous blue flowers form an aura or halo around the plant. The flowers are long lasting and continual so that numerous flowers occur from spring through into winter.
Needs: Almanda Blue does need damp soil. The plant requires little else. It requires little fertilizer if any. It will grow in full sun to part shade. It can handle mild frost but will be burnt by severe frost. It can be trimmed. However it has to be understood that once runners have been removed they may not be replaced. If there is a problem with loss of runners, then the simplest remedy may be to start again with a runner cutting in a new pot. Of course it can be planted out in your garden or rockery but it really does make a superb pot plant.