Wonders never cease! A surprising Chinese "foxglove"

Rehmannia piasezkii

Somewhere in my much too large of slide library I must have some unlabeled images of this (or closely related) taxon blooming up a storm in Northern China. A computer search did not find the images I took in the wild. Suffice it to say, I'll keep looking (it was enchanting growing among rocks in nature). I've tried growing it many times, and it hasn't persisted--although I did find it growing in quite cold areas in the wild.

Rehmannia piasezkii

One of my colleagues planted this specimen in 2016, It's been 9 years and it's not only persisting, but spreading.

Some more Rehmannias from previous gardens where the didn't persist............I believe I got this one as R. glutinosa.

Another ftom old files..

                                                                                   

A few more historical shots...pretty cool, no?