Phygelius × rectus 'Moonraker'

RHS Plant Profile

Cape figwort 'Moonraker'

RHS 1999

Synonyms

Phygelius aequalis 'Moonraker'

Shrubs

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'Moonraker' is an evergreen shrub (herbaceous in cold areas) with ovate leaves and long panicles of nodding, curved, pale creamy-yellow flowers in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk 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 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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Phygelius are evergreen shrubs, usually grown as herbaceous perennials in cooler areas, with simple, ovate leaves and large panicles of tubular flowers in summer and autumn
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold drying winds and provide a dry winter mulch

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring. Remove rooted suckers in spring and overwinter young plants under glass

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Pruning group 9 or if grown as a herbaceous perennial cut back to the base in spring. Deadhead to encourage further flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to figwort weevil and capsid bug

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)