The red flower in the vase, China Hat (Holmskioldia sanguinea) is a recent addition to my garden. This is a tropical shrub native to lowlands of the Himalaya. It is thriving in my garden, enjoying the parched sand, seemingly a tropical desert shrub. These flower in winter here and I decided to cut a few to see how they hold up in a vase. Here is a closer view of the flower:
The other flowers in the vase are Zinnias grown from a Cactus seed Mix. I like the color but hesitate to name it..kind of a bronzy cafe au lait. The misty grasses are from the few remaining flowers on the Muhly Grass (Muhlbergia capillaris). I inherited the vase from my mother, I believe she bought it the Desert Southwestern United States in the 1980s, it is marked as made by the Ute tribe.
Happy New Garden Year to all. Time to plot our plots! I am thinking more Zinnias and maybe another China Hat, they are available in several colors.
Thank you to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting this meme. I always have fresh flowers in the house thanks to Cathy. Follow the link to see more vases.
The Shrub Queen 
Great addition to the garden. Hope it holds up well in your pretty vase. Love the zinnias–I had a few of that color this summer and was at a loss to name the color. You nailed it.
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That is a really interesting flower. How large does the shrub get? Any scent?
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I agree, the one next door (parent plant) is easily 8 feet x 8 feet but is decades old. Form is similar to Forsythia. No scent to me, though butterflies and hummers love it.
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Those colorful bracts remind me of satellite dishes! I would think they would be long-lasting as a cut flower due to those bracts. Similar to poinsettias, we don’t really notice the actual small flower.
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Some call these cup and saucer plant. I am told they dry well? They seem to be holding up. Happy New Year, Eliza!
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Holmskioldia is growing in my local botanic garden, although I can’t say I’ve ever seen it anywhere else locally. I’m always startled when I see zinnias in your post – you have my wondering when I should try starting them from seed here. Happy new year, Amelia!
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Happy New Year, Kris!! try some zinnias, I am pretty sure it will work. It took me 60 days from seed to first cut flower.
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What an intriguing bloom the China Hat is, and doesn’t it work well with the zinnia (which I instantly thought of as cafe au lait colour)? Interesting vase too
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Great minds think alike? Thanks..
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Lovely. There is alwwys something new and exciting in your garden. Your China Hats are something I have never seen before. Very pretty. And aren’t your zinnias doing well?
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Thank you, Liz. You may need a China Hat in your greenhouse. Amazing winter color.
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Doesn’t China hat look like a euphorb of some sort? I see that it is more like a verbena.
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It does remind me of Wulfenii Euphorbia flowers…the form of the shrub is more like a Forsythia.
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I find it to be more appealing than the euphorbs. I am none too keen on euphorbs.
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I really hate crown of thorns, very popular here
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Yuck! I will never understand the allure of that plant! There are so many more appealing things to grow.
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Yeah.. it’s everywhere here.. the appeal is it lives
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There are a few plants that are more appealing if they do not live. (Of course, I do not intend to imply that this is one of those plants.)
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I like the China hats, and the zinnias are lovely too. You have had a successful season with them. I think I am now convinced I need to try growing them again!
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Thanks, Cathy. I am a recovering zinnia snob!
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