Auntie Lilli’s™ South Sea Salad Tree

A stunning, tri-colored variegation on an edible mallow relative! Auntie Lilli’s™ South Sea Salad Tree is the variety that first piqued our interest in this beautiful and edible genus of plants. Though they will not grow as tall tropical trees in northern climates, they can still reach 3 or 4 feet tall with enough delicious foliage to fill the stir-fry pan or salad bowl all winter long! And if the foliage wasn’t enough, Auntie Lilli’s bears gorgeous purple and yellow blooms with multiple colors on one flower! They look very similar to flowers in the closely related Hibiscus genus. Wowzers!

*These plants currently have pearl bodies, sometimes known as pearl glands, along their stems and leaves. Pearl bodies are very small, clear balls containing lipids, sugars, proteins and carbohydrates. Though they look like insect eggs, these are actually exudates from the stomata that function much like extra-floral nectaries on Passiflora species by feeding ant species in exchange for protection from herbivory from other insects. Yet another case of plant-ant mutualism and further evidence that plants and ants just might rule the world. These pearl bodies are completely non-toxic to us and likely provide small amounts of nutrients when we consume them.

Latin Name: Abelmoschus manihot
Site and Soil: Grows well in sun or shade but semi-shade is preferred outdoors
Hardiness: This plant can tolerate a light frost and grow back from the roots but should be grown indoors in areas that receive freezing temperatures
Bearing Age: Immediately
Size at Maturity: 3-4 feet tall x 2-4 feet wide
Pests & Diseases: Does not appear to be susceptible to any pests or diseases in our climate, possibly aphids indoors
USDA Zone: 9-11