Powdery Alligator-flag Thalia dealbata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Schumannianthus benthamianus
- Thalia barbata
- Phonetic Spelling
- THAL-ee-uh day-al-BAH-tuh
- Description
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Named after the German physician Johannes Thal, this is a great plant for a water garden. Plant in 12 to 18 inches of water over the crown or in 5 to 20-gallon tubs. Its native habitat of southeast asia includes cypress swamps, marshes, and ponds. Locating your plants in 18 to 24" of water during the winter months is sufficient. Cutting back and providing a thick layer of mulch will help the plant to winter well. If not possible, locate in a frost free location during the winter months. A greenhouse is ideal, protecting from frost and providing sufficient bright light.
The entire plant is covered with a white powdery coating, thus the common names, Powdery Thalia and Powdery Alligator-flag. This powdery substance is water-repelling and also adds muted coloration, enhancing the plant's appearance.
The petioles and basal sheath have internal air cavities, making them buoyant.
After blooming, the flowers are replaced by smooth seed capsules, each containing 1 seed.
Under the right conditions, the spreading rhizomes can create a quite large colony of plants. In locations where the correct growing conditions are absent, this plant is considered endangered.
Hardy canna is a valuable plant for the environment. It goes through a natural process called Phytoremediation, which breaks down or removes excess pollutants from standing water. This improves the water quality.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No insect or disease issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pond and Stream
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thalia
- Species:
- dealbata
- Family:
- Marantaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern US, Mexico
- Distribution:
- Southeast Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval food plant for the Brazilian Skipper butterfly. Also attracts butterflies, carpenter bees, bumblebees and hummingbirds. Ducks feed on the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are purple to brown utricles (similar to achenes), nearly globose to broadly obovoid with a single dark brown to black seed.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small violet flowers that grow in pairs on 8 in. panicles are carried high above the foliage.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The thick ovate to lancelolate blue-green leaves dusted with white powder are edged in purple and can grow up to 18" long. The upper leaf is pale green and hairless, while the underside is a greenish-white and has hairs. The hairs can be found along the base, central veins and margins. In daytime hours, the leaves are displayed in a horizontal position, but will come to attention in the evening, standing more erect.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Like the other parts of this plant, a powdery substance covers the stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
