Whitfieldia elongata aka White Candles

Whitfieldia elongata is a shrub from tropical Africa. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Gardeners also call it white candles. Kew gives its native range as Benin to southwestern Ethiopia and northern Zambia. It grows in rainforests with a wet, tropical climate. The RHS gives Whitfieldia longifolia as another name for this species. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The shrub can grow upright or climb through nearby plants. Useful Tropical Plants gives its height as about 13 feet [4 metres]. It also lists stems 10–16 feet [3–5 metres] long. These lengths refer to stems that can climb. They do not give a range of garden heights. The leaves are glossy and have clear drip tips. People also use the woody stems in local crafts.

The white flowers give the shrub its common name. Each bloom is about 2–3 inches [5–8 centimetres] long. A petaloid calyx, which looks like petals, surrounds each bloom. This adds to the show of flowers. Chicago Botanic Garden records blooms in all twelve months. It also says the plant draws birds and butterflies. The white blooms and glossy leaves give it most of its garden appeal. Its upright shape suits borders and bedding schemes. It can also stand alone as a specimen plant.

This plant needs warmth and high humidity when grown in gardens. Chicago Botanic Garden advises bright light with some shade. Useful Tropical Plants says it prefers light to somewhat deep shade. Taken together, these accounts point to a bright spot out of full sun. Keep the growing medium moist. Chicago lists USDA hardiness zones 10–11 for this species. It grows in large pots or beds in a conservatory. In cooler places, people also grow it as a houseplant. Useful Tropical Plants says growers can raise it from seed.

People gather wild plants for medicine, dye, and wood. The leaves yield a black dye. People use the stems as spindles for spinning. In folk remedies, people heat and crush the leaves. They place them on the body to treat bronchitis. Other accounts report drinks made from leaves for stomach problems and food poisoning. Women have also eaten prepared leaves to try to conceive. These are records of past uses, not proof of health benefits. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known food uses or hazards. This does not prove food value or safety for people and pets.