Bukiniczia Cabulica

I was fortunate to be able to attend the NARGS (North American Rock Garden Society) annual plant sale in Denver this year. The variety of plants was amazing and would tempt all gardeners – not just the rock garden specialists. I came home with too many plants of course! Penstemons, an alder leaf mountain mahogany, and three little Bukiniczia cabulica. This charming plant is also known as variegated statice. It hails from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The leathery leaves of this biennial have a beautiful veined pattern and form a perfect rosette. It is a good fit for rock gardens as it prefers drier and well draining conditions. I have only seen mature rosettes during garden tours in Pueblo and every time it has been in partial shade and in a perennial bed, not a rock garden. Since I don’t have a rock garden yet, I decided to try planting them in sandy soil front of a Kintzley’s Ghost honeysuckle on the east side of my house.

The plants were in 2.5 inch pots and around an inch or two across when I planted them. Now at our growing season’s end, the rosettes are 4-5inches across. Hopefully both will bloom and set seed next year before they die. It is not an easy plant to come by locally — I only have seen them at the NARGS sale. Annie’s Annuals in California and Far Reaches Farm in Washington State sell it online.

Bukiniczia cabulica blooms are borne on 18″ stalks and are pretty insignificant. I’ve seen the color described as pinkish tan but haven’t seen it in person yet. Both plants have done really well so hope to get some seeds from them next year. Annie’s description says some plants may also produce offsets, which would be great. Both Annie’s Annuals and Far Reaches farm classify Bukiniczia cabulica as hardy to Zone 5 on their website. I plan to winter protect mine this year when temperatures go below zero. I also am wintering one in a container that I can move into the garage in case these two don’t survive our erratic Colorado winter weather. If I do get seed, I’ll update this post.