Escallonia laevis 'Gold Ellen' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

escallonia 'Gold Ellen'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Shrubs

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A compact, evergreen shrub to about 2m with small, shiny, yellow leaves with an irregular dark green splash in the centre. Clusters of small, dark pink flowers are produced in late summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, 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

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or 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): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Escalloniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Escallonia are evergreen shrubs with glossy, leathery, toothed leaves, sometimes sticky, and 5-petalled white, pink or red flowers in terminal racemes or panicles in summer and early autumn
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and hardwood cuttings late autumn to winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Pruning group 9

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to escallonia leaf spot and honey fungus