Description
This was introduced in 2004 by Ellen Hornig, then of Seneca Hill perennials, in the USA. In turn it originated in a batch of seed obtained from Kunming Botanic Garden who had a colony of beautifully-marked A. consanguineum. It was thus thought that the chances of getting good seedlings were high. The Perfect Wave was distinguished both by the overall glaucous blue cast to the foliage and by its silver centre.
It was originally propagated vegetatively from the offsets produced in large plants, but subsequently it has been found that it comes almost completely true from seed and seedlings are now offered from other sources under the formerly clonal name. Ours are also raised from seed, to maturity (raised from closed pollinated seed) but they are individually re-selected to maintain the original traits of blue tinged foliage with a central silvery stripe or variegation. This stripe contrasts brilliantly with the rest of the foliage and gives a small clump (which will eventually form) a distinguished and attractive appearance.
The foliage is held on tall stems, from 40cm-120cm and is beautifully palmate, split into 8-20 segments (depending on maturity). Each leaflet is slightly declined and the end prolonged into a drip-tip. There is variation in the degree of variegation between plants but even in the same plant, from year to year, it is a natural feature of the species. However all maintain the glaucous foliuage with a central silver stripe. The inflorescence is pale green with brownish highlights and whilst pleasant, it is not the feature for which this plant is mostly grown, though the orange-red berries which follow are also decorative.
It is worth noting that this strain emerges VERY late in the season, potentially as late as July and it is best not investigated with a trowel or finger “just to see how it is” unless you wish to damage it, this is the so called “finger blight”!
Dappled or transient shade in a leafy, but well-drained soil is best but this is not a difficult plant for the garden.
Introduced to our lists November 2018
