Solanum quitoense (F)

RHS

Other common names

lulo, Quito orange

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs

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A tender, fast-growing shrub. Large green leaves are covered in fine hairs, with purple colouring along the veins. Spines protrude from the upper leaf surface and stems. Leaves and stems may display more purple colouring when young. Suitable for use in tropical style, ornamental planting. If given a long growing season it will produce white flowers, followed by orange fruits. Juice is made from the fruits when grown in tropical regions, but the fruits are covered in tiny hairs and may not fully ripen in the UK, so caution is advised

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand, Chalk

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand Chalk

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–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): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
Name Status: Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit
Plant Range: Central America, NW South America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile moisture-retentive soil in good light. Can be planted outside in early summer. If grown just for the foliage, it can be treated as an annual

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Can be pruned in late summer or early autumn if plants are to be overwintered in a greenhouse

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, aphids and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)