In her book Gardening with Woodland Plants (Timber Press, 2007), Karan Junker says the following about Beesia:
"It is normally represented in cultivation by the species B. calthifolia. Apparently embossed veining enhances the flossy, leathery, heart-shaped leaves. Upright spikes of starry white flowers are produced from midspring into summer. Beesia deltophylla is similar."
In American Nurseryman, vol 194, no. 12 (2001), p.66, Beesia deltophylla is described as a Dan Hinkley / Heronswood introduction grown from seed collected in Sichuan Province in 1996. "Airy, white, 1-foot racemes that appear in May through July; produces corpulent rosettes of glossy, deep-green, heart-shaped leaves up to 5 inches long." Under the heading of how this plant differs from other species or cultivars, it simply says "durable, evergreen perennial." It clumps but does not colonize, has a moderate growth rate and prefers light shade, and a well-drained but moist site.
Our gardener here at the Center for Urban Horticulture, Riz Reyes, features Beesia deltophylla on his website.
Here is more on B. calthifolia, from Flora of China. The main difference between the two species seems to be the veining of the leaves on this plant.
Season
All Season
Date 2010-03-11
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