Bomarea salsilla
A deciduous twining climber with underground tubers, and aerial stems bearing lance-shaped, mid-green leaves, to 13cm (5in) long. In summer, it bears rounded, branched flower stems with bell-shaped, crimson or purple-red flowers of 1.5cm long.
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Alstroemeriaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Climbing
- Genus
Bomarea are tuberous, deciduous twining perennials with simple, lance-shaped leaves and terminal umbels or racemes of tubular or narrowly bell-shaped flowers
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Chile
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based potting compost, with added sharp sand, in full light with shade from hot sun. Provide support. When in growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; keep just moist in winter. Outdoors, grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.
Propagation
Sow seed at 13-16°C (55-61°C) in spring. Divide established plants in late winter or early spring as growth begins.
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Sub-tropical
- Climber and wall shrubs
- Wall side borders
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
Cut back dead and flowered stems to ground level in winter.
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and aphids under glass.
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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