Philesia magellanica
Magellan austral bellflower
An unusual, evergreen, suckering, sometimes climbing shrub with upright rigid stems which can have a pinkish hue when young and become arching over time. Foliage is narrow and very dark green and thick, waxy, tubular pink flowers, with a flared mouth, appear irregularly in summer through to autumn. Performs well in shady, mossy, rocky areas and will climb around mossy trees
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | Pink | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Philesiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Suckering
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Chile, Argentina
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in humus-rich, moist, acidic/peaty soil in part, dappled shade and in a sheltered position. Performs best in shady, mossy and rocky areas which remain damp throughout the summer
Propagation
Propagation by suckers or semi-ripe cuttings in summer may not always be successful. Layering of shoots can produce better results
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Rock garden
Pruning
No pruning required. Remove suckers in spring
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails, scale insects and red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free but young shoots may be susceptible to fungal diseases
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.