Propagation
Division of the clump during late winter.

Root cuttings taken during late winter.

Sow fresh seed during early spring in pots and place in a cold frame to germinate.


Botanic information
Leaf: The ovate to oblong leaves have a margin that is deeply lobed with an acuminate apex. The foliage tends to die down during summer but is replaced prior to winter in warm climates. In cool climates, new leaves emerge during spring.

Flower: The tubulate flower consists of a lower petal that is divided into 3-lobes and the upper petal is absent. It is enclosed in a pair of purplish bracts that have spiny margins and the flowers are arranged in an erect terminal spike that is up to 1.8 m (6ft) tall and appears during late spring.

Fruit: The fruit is a dry ovoid capsule and the small seeds are viable but the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.