This is a beautiful specimen of Cantua buxifolia the sacred flower of the Incas. The flowers are full of nectar and hang pendulously waiting for a hummingbird to pollinate them. Visitors to the garden are quite often intrigued by this unusual shrub.
One day in Spring we had visitors coming for a guided tour of the house and garden followed by afternoon tea. I was working on a vase arrangement for the hall table. The vase was actually a shallow bowl and I had filled it with pale pink and white apple blossom. It looked gorgeous but needed something else as a contrast. As I wandered about the garden trying to find the perfect flower I passed the Cantua buxifolia which was in full bloom. I had never used it in a vase arrangement before but could see the bright colour was perfect.
As I tucked little clumps of bright pink Cantua among the apple blossom the vase arrangement came to life and glowed. It lasted quite well in the vase too. It’s very satisfying to discover a new flower in the garden which we can use for arrangements.
If you would like to explore this historic Hobart garden, please have a look at our Heritage garden tour.
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