Amicia zygomeris

Amicia zygomeris, also known as the yellow-flowered Amicia, is a peculiar plant, part-shrub part-perennial, endowed with a unique beauty. This tall perennial with a woody base develops long purplish stems, and offers a long flowering period at the end of the season, in the form of large pea-like flowers, light orange-yellow with brown markings, gathered in small clusters at the axil of the leaves. Its large light green leaves close at night. It also forms round foliar pieces, very decorative, tinged with lime green and purple, gathered in cymes at the tips of young shoots. Semi-hardy, it can be planted in the ground in mild climates, or in a large pot to be stored in cold regions. This unusual plant will appeal to curious gardeners and collectors of rare species.

Amicia zygomeris is a woody-based perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, related to lupines and wisterias. It is native to Central America, more precisely Mexico, where it is found growing at high altitudes, often along watercourses, in moist soil and in the sun. It has a bushy habit and fairly rapid growth. At maturity, this plant will reach a height of 1.50m (5ft) to 2m (7ft) with a diameter of 60cm (24in) to 1.50m (5ft). Evergreen and bushy in its country of origin, it behaves in our climates as a perennial that disappears with harsh frosts, below -7°C (19.4°F), but regrows from the stump in spring, after short periods at -10°C (14°F).

The stems, woody at the base, green with purplish reflections, are covered with a fine greyish down. The leaves, composed of 4 inverted heart-shaped leaflets, 8cm (3in) long, are light green on the upper side and glandular greenish-glaucous on the underside. They are carried by a purple-violet petiole forming a nice contrast. From August to October, the large sweet pea like flowers, 3cm (1in) long, light orange-yellow, grouped in clusters of 5 to 9, appear at the axil of the leaves, along almost the entire length of the stems. They are surrounded by large lime green bracts veined with the same purple-violet as the petioles. The flowers then become the same colour as the bracts and persist for a long time, until the seeds ripen or... until the frost. The fruits are cylindrical pods, brown when mature.

A bush in its region of origin, this yellow-flowered Amicia behaves more like a perennial in our regions, to be reserved for coastal areas as it does not tolerate winter humidity combined with freezing temperatures. We have successfully planted it in a scree garden well protected from northern winds, in the company of a small Sophora, agapanthus and penstemons. It also forms beautiful combinations in an exotic-inspired bed, with cannas and Hedychium. Growing it in a large pot allows you to keep an eye on it on the patio, and it can be stored frost-free in winter, in a very bright room.