Escallonia rubra var. macrantha

RHS Plant Profile

Chilean gum box

Synonyms

Escallonia macrantha
Escallonia sanguinea

Shrubs

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A large, evergreen shrub to about 3m in height and spread, with broadly oval, glossy, dark green leaves to 8cm long. Loose clusters of tubular, bright rose-red flowers to 1.5cm long appear from mid-summer to autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, 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

Chalk Clay 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: Exposed or 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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Escalloniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
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: Chile, Argentina

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny position protected from cold, drying winds

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens
Climber and wall shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to escallonia leaf spot and honey fungus