Nematanthus 'Tropicana'

RHS Plant Profile
nematanthus 'Tropicana'

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A trailing evergreen subshrub to 30cm tall, with thick, glossy obovate leaves and red-striped deep yellow tubular flowers 2.5cm long, with conspicuous red calyx lobes

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–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)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Gesneriaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Trailing
Genus
Nematanthus are trailing evergreen perennials or subshrubs, with simple, fleshy leaves and solitary or clustered, tubular flowers in the leaf axils
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in an acidic to neutral, well-drained, peat-free compost, in bright, diffused light. Water moderately with rainwater, and feed once a month with a balanced fertiliser when the plants are actively growing. Water less during the winter.

Propagation

softwood cuttings may be taken in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants

Pruning

tip-prune young plants to encourage branching

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free