Such a vibrant color, love this. Persian shield. Persian Shield is known botanically as Strobilanthes dyerianus. It is native to Burma and has 8-inch-long leaves that are iridescent in shades of purple, lilac and pink, with purple-maroon on the undersides. If those colors aren't awesome enough, the foliage looks like it has a light coat of silver electroplated to it. Although newly in fashion. the plant has been used in gardens since Victorian times..