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Conservatory Greenhouse

Ruellia macrantha

Christmas pride

An erect, soft-stemmed subshrub, with softly hairy, matt, dark green leaves to 15cm long. The funnel-shaped rich, purplish-pink flowers to 8cm long are produced singly from the leaf axils in autumn to winter

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Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–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)

H1B

Botanical details

Family: Acanthaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Ruellia can be perennials or shrubs, with simple, evergreen leaves sometimes attractively veined, and solitary or clustered, funnel-shaped flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Brazil

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in containers using peat-free, multipurpose compost) in bright filtered light with high humidity. Water freely during the growing season and apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly. Water moderately in winter. Keep at minimum 12°C

Propagation

Propagate by seed; sow seeds at 19-24°C in spring. Take softwood cuttings in spring or early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pinch young shoots to encourage branching. Pruning group 10; after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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