Boehmeria ‘Kyushu Rikishi’

Either a geographical form of B. holosericea or more likely a wild hybrid of it, this was found in Southern Kyushu, Japan. A non-stinging nettle-relative, grown here for its superb foliage, the very large, rounded, bold leaves up to 32cm across have a particularly bullate, textured surface with every vein markedly impressed and with a deeply serrated margin. Pipe-cleaner style tassel flowers in autumn. Fully herbaceous and hardy here so far in my very cold frost pocket location, even through Dec 2022. Semi-shade, Ht 180cm.