Piptanthus nepalensis

RHS Plant Profile

Nepal laburnum

RHS

Other common names

evergreen laburnum

Synonyms

Piptanthus forrestii
Baptisia nepalensis
Piptanthus leiocarpus
Piptanthus laburnifolius

Shrubs

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A bushy evergreen shrub with leaves composed of 3 elliptic, dark green leaflets, blue-green on the underside, and short racemes of yellow flowers 4cm long in late spring and early summer, followed by flat green pods

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: 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): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Piptanthus are evergreen shrubs with leaves composed of 3 leaflets, and yellow pea-flowers in short terminal racemes
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Himalaya

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade with shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring or autumn; take heeled, semi-ripe cuttings (basal) in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or Pruning group 13 if wall-trained

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free