Persian Shield
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Family Acanthaceae
Persian shield looks airbrushed: purple and silver laid over green in a metallic sheen no photograph quite captures, on leaves that seem lit from inside. It may be the most jaw-dropping foliage plant most gardeners have never grown — the one visitors always stop at and ask about first.
It keeps its color best out of harsh sun, which makes it a natural for shade containers outdoors and bright rooms indoors, where it carries on as a 2-to-3-foot houseplant. The iridescence flatters everything planted near it, chartreuse especially. No pet-safety listing exists yet, so keep it out of chewing range — and in plain view.
Part Shade / bright indirect — color richest out of harsh sun
Moderate water
Fast growth
From the print shop
Growing persian shield? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries persian shield — Strobilanthes dyerianus, print Nº 362, “Persian Shield.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what persian shield actually needs.
Life cyclePerennial zones 9–11, annual elsewherePersian Shield · Common problems
Common persian shield problems
Pests
2 problems on file
- Spider Mites (indoors)
- Whitefly
Diseases
1 problem on file
Persian Shield · Growing & propagation
Growing persian shield
- Light
- Part Shade / bright indirect
Color richest out of harsh sun
- Water
- Moderate
Evenly moist
Soil- Rich, drained · pH 5.5 - 6.5
Fertilizer- Monthly in season
Pruning- Pinch all season for bushiness
Pinch tips constantly; overwinter cuttings in a jar of water.
Spacing- 12-18 in
How to plant & propagate persian shield
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Persian Shield · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Persian Shield · Yearly calendar
The persian shield year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for persian shield — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
Persian Shield · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Persian Shield in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What persian shield is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesNo ASPCA listing found; keep pets from chewing until verified
Use- Metallic foliage
- Use
- Shade containers
- Use
- Cutting keepers
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Persian Shield · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a persian shield variety
Species (no real cultivars — it's already spectacular)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Persian Shield
Strobilanthes dyerianus
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Strobilanthes dyerianus
- Plant family
- Acanthaceae
- Growth habit
- Perennial · Tender Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Persian Shield
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
Questions
Persian Shield questions, answered straight.
Is persian shield safe for kids and pets?
With care. No ASPCA listing found; keep pets from chewing until verified Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate persian shield?
Division or seed.
Elsewhere
Where persian shield sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily