Escallonia bifida

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cloven gum box

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cloven gum box Janet Cubey
cloven gum box Dorling Kindersley 2003

Synonyms

Escallonia paniculata misapplied
Escallonia floribunda misapplied
Escallonia montevidensis
Escallonia floribunda var. montevidensis

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A bushy, upright evergreen shrub to 3m, with shiny dark green leaves and rounded terminal panicles of pure white flowers with spreading petals, borne in late summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–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
Correct
Plant Range
S America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun in a sheltered location, but in colder areas may require protection from cold drying winds and is best suited to inner city or southern county areas; ideal for wall training

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or hardwood cuttings from late autumn to winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insect

Diseases

May be susceptible to escallonia leaf spot and honey fungus