Cantua buxifolia
sacred flower of the Incas
An upright, often half-climbing, evergreen shrub. In spring it produces sprays of hanging tubular flowers which are pink to purple with red petal lobes
Synonyms
Cantua dependensBuy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Pink Purple Red | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Green | |||
Autumn | Green | |||
Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Polemoniaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Cantua are evergreen small shrubs or trees with arching or scrambling branches and showy, terminal corymbs of narrowly tubular flowers with five spreading lobes, in a range of colours
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Andes of Bolivia, Peru & Chile
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Plants may be stood outdoors for the summer. In frost-free areas grow in a warm, sheltered position in full sun. The long, flexible stems will need support
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in heat in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 11, after flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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