Strobilanthes is a genus of about 350 species[2] of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, mostly native to tropical Asia and Madagascar, but with a few species extending north into temperate regions of Asia.
Many species are cultivated for their two-lipped, hooded flowers in shades of blue, pink, white and purple.
[4] Strobilanthes atropurpurea is a temperate species, native to eastern Siberia; it is cultivated for its purple flowers.
Strobilanthes dyeriana (Persian shield) is a tropical plant native to Myanmar.
It is grown for its dark green foliage with bright, metallic-purple stripes radiating outward from the central leaf vein.