It grows tall, from 18 to 22 inches high, taller with the flower. Hummingbirds like the white flowers that grow out just above the leaf foliage in late summer.
In my garden, it seems to be snail and earwig resistant, which I believe is because of the thicker, corrugated, leather-like leaf.
Here’s the trick—keep her well watered. If you cannot keep her in a spot that is regularly moist, then you need to put her feet in the shade.
Although many tout Francis Williams as a sun lover, in my experience she is not and will suffer deep sunburn to the point where the plant looks like it has been fried in an iron skillet.
I do not water Francis Williams often; however, I keep the plant under my crabapple tree where she only gets a touch of morning sun and no evening sun at all.
Follow these few planting tricks, and you'll see how easy it is to have success with this delightful gem of a plant.
She might just be the grand feature of your shade bed.
