Morina longifolia

RHS Plant Profile

long-leaved whorlflower

Herbaceous Perennial

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A compact rosette of spiny-margined, lance-shaped, glossy leaves to 30cm long, with white flowers 3cm long opening in mid summer, soon ageing to pink, then crimson

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Morina are rosette-forming, evergreen, thistle-like perennial with aromatic, spiny leaves and whorls of slender-tubed flowers with spreading lobes borne in spikes in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Himalaya

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in sharply-drained poor soil with full sun and protect from winter wet. Plants dislike disturbance

Propagation

Propagate by seed in a coldframe as soon as ripe with one seed per container of gritty seed compost. Can be propagated by winter root cuttings but plants do not like root disturbance

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Coastal
Rock garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Seedheads are useful for dried flower arrangements

Pests

Susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to rot, especially in shade