Clianthus puniceus

RHS Plant Profile
lobster claw

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lobster claw RHS 1985

Other common names

glory pea, kaka beak, New Zealand parrot's bill, parrot's beak, parrot's bill, red kowhai

Synonyms

Clianthus puniceus 'Red Cardinal'
Clianthus puniceus 'Kaka Beak'
Clianthus puniceus 'Red Admiral'

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Shrubs Climber Wall Shrub
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A scandent evergreen shrub to 3m, with dark green pinnate leaves and pendulous clusters of vivid red flowers 7cm in length in early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–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
Climbing
Genus
Clianthus are evergreen, scrambling shrubs with pinnate leaves and spectacular claw-like flowers in spring and summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
NZ (N Island)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Ideal for a warm, sunny, sheltered position in mild areas or, grow in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. It thrives in well-drained soil or compost.

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 11 (or pruning group 13 if wall-grown) immediately after flowering; cut back flowered shoots by no more than one third their length

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free