About Mackaya bella Harv.
Mackaya bella Harv. is an erect, evergreen shrub that grows 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall and wide. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, measure 4 to 5 inches long, and are glossy, slender, and elliptical in shape, with dark green coloring, wavy margins, and prominent midrib and veins on their lower surface. In spring and early summer, it produces abundant 2-inch long, trumpet-shaped flowers. These flowers range in color from pale lilac to lavender, are marked with purple veins across their petals, and have distinct deep purple veins in their throats.
In cultivation, this species is not hardy when temperatures drop below −6 °C (21 °F). As a result, it requires winter protection in colder temperate regions, but can be placed outdoors in a sheltered location over the summer. It grows best in neutral or alkaline soil, and has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
