RHS Garden Rosemoor

Plant of the Month: May

Crinodendron hookerianum @ Rosemoor

Rosemoor's plant of Crinodendron hookerianum grows in the Croquet Lawn Garden in Lady Anne's Garden, providing good all-year-round value with its attractive dark evergreen foliage and, in May, beautiful vivid crimson lantern-like flowers which hang in profusion along its branches from long, delicate scarlet stems.

Crinodendron

This genus contains two species of shrubs or small trees from Chile, which are grown both for their foliage and flowers. The name comes from the Greek words krinon, lily and dendron, tree, in allusion to the flowers.

The leaves are narrow, dark green and alternate. The flowers are pendant and either bell-, lantern- or urn-shaped, in red or white, borne singly or in pairs on thickened stalks from the leaf axils.

In the UK they require a sheltered woodland garden or the shelter of a wall, except in mild areas.

They may also be grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory, where they are likely to flower earlier than outside.

Crinodendron hookerianum

This stiffly branched shrub, or occasionally small tree, whose young wood is felted with grey down, is one of the shining gems of a mild temperate garden.

Its leaves are elliptic or oblong, narrow, pointed, toothed, dark green and up to 10cm (4in) long.

The flowers are urn-shaped, bright red or carmine, with fleshy petals, 2-2.5cm (0.75-1in) long. They are produced from late spring to late summer on stalks that appear the previous autumn.

Both flower buds and young growth may be damaged by frost.

This species was introduced to the UK in 1848 by William Lobb. It was named in honour of either Sir William Hooker or his son Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, both botanists of considerable distinction and both Directors of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Crinodendron hookerianum an Award of Garden Merit and described it as: Dense, medium-sized evergreen shrub with rigid, narrow, dark green leaves and fleshy, lantern-shaped, crimson flowers 3cm long.

Cultivation

Grow in cool, moist, fertile, well-drained, acid soil either in partial shade or in full sun with the roots shaded. It thrives best in places such as Cornwall, the Isle of Wight, Ireland and the west of Scotland, where these conditions are met.

Prune annually after flowering by lightly cutting back shoots that spoil symmetry, only if needed. Deadhead if practical. Remove dead or damaged growth in mid-spring.

Crinodendron hookerianum is generally free from pests and diseases.

Propagation

Root greenwood cuttings in early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer.