About Berkheya purpurea (DC.) Benth. & Hook.fil. ex Mast.
Berkheya purpurea (DC.) Benth. & Hook.fil. ex Mast. is a herbaceous perennial plant. It reaches a height of 75 cm (30 in), and forms a 90 cm (35 in) rosette of spiky leaves. Each individual leaf measures 45 cm (18 in) long and 10 cm (3.9 in) wide, with a white felted texture on its underside. A stem grows from the center of each rosette, and bears 8 cm (3.1 in) successional flowers on its side branches. The blooms are daisy-like composite flowers, with white or pale mauve ray florets surrounding a darker purple central head. This species flowers in summer. It is native to Lesotho and South Africa, where it occurs in Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Northern Cape. In cultivation, Berkheya purpurea is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F). It requires a sheltered position in full sun, and grows best in moist but well-drained soil.
