Anisodontea capensis CARNIVAL LIGHTS CANDY APPLE (Carnival Lights Series)

Anisodontea capensis CARNIVAL LIGHTS CANDY APPLE (‘Ib201-7’) (Carnival Lights Series) stands out immediately for its rich, dark red flowers, a dramatic departure from the pink shades traditionally associated with this species. The flowers are larger than previous forms and are borne in abundance against clean, healthy foliage, creating a vivid and long‑lasting display.

Flowering begins as early as May and continues through to Christmas and beyond, making it one of the longest‑flowering plants available for pots, borders and mixed containers. In mild climates, it can be grown as a compact shrub, delivering sustained colour over many months.

How it was created

CANDY APPLE is the result of a hybridisation programme in Australia, led by Plant Growers Australia Ltd. This breeding work focused on improving flower colour, flowering volume, foliage cleanliness and overall habit.
The programme produced several notable colour breaks, with CANDY APPLE selected for its unique red colouring, neat, tidy growth and outstanding floriferousness, forming part of the Carnival Lights Series.

Why grow it in your garden?

CARNIVAL LIGHTS CANDY APPLE (‘Ib201-7’) (Carnival Lights Series)  offers a combination of colour, performance and adaptability:

• A genuine colour breakthrough with deep red hues rather than the more commonly seen pink

• Flowers are produced continuously over a very long season

• Ideal for modern gardening, suited to patios, containers and borders

• Excellent heat and drought tolerance

• High flower power with minimal effort

• Can be grown as a short‑lived garden plant or a shrub in mild areas – hardiness down to -5 ºC

It gives gardeners something genuinely new while remaining practical and easy to use.

Where to plant

• Grows well in pots, mixed planters or borders

• Prefers full sun to light shade

• Thrives in most free‑draining soils

How to care for it

• No pruning required

• No

  Deadheading is the removal of flowers from plants when they have faded or died. It is done to keep plants looking attractive and encourage re-flowering.

  deadheading needed — continues flowering naturally

• Hardy to around –5°C

• Reaches approximately:

• 80cm tall

• 60cm wide
  (Size may be reduced in colder winters)

Care and growing advice

Where to plant

• Grows well in pots, mixed planters or borders

• Prefers full sun to light shade

• Thrives in most free‑draining soils

How to care for it

• No pruning required

• No

  Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from plants to encourage more blooms and prevent seed production. This helps to redirect the plant's energy into producing more flowers rather than producing seeds.

  deadheading needed — continues flowering naturally

• Hardy to around –5°C

• Reaches approximately:

• 80cm tall

• 60cm wide
  (Size may be reduced in colder winters)

With its unprecedented red colouring and extraordinary flowering season, CARNIVAL LIGHTS CANDY APPLE brings bold, modern energy to gardens and containers alike. brings bold, modern energy to gardens and containers alike.

Breeder: Plant Growers Australia Ltd. Exhibitor: Sparsholt College. Supplier: Hillier Nurseries Ltd.