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Climber Wall Shrub

Bomarea salsilla

A deciduous twining climber with underground tubers, and aerial stems bearing lance-shaped, mid-green leaves, to 13cm (5in) long. In summer, it bears rounded, branched flower stems with bell-shaped, crimson or purple-red flowers of 1.5cm long.

Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Purple Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Alstroemeriaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Climbing
Genus

Bomarea are tuberous, deciduous twining perennials with simple, lance-shaped leaves and terminal umbels or racemes of tubular or narrowly bell-shaped flowers

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost, with added sharp sand, in full light with shade from hot sun. Provide support. When in growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; keep just moist in winter. Outdoors, grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Propagation

Sow seed at 13-16°C (55-61°C) in spring. Divide established plants in late winter or early spring as growth begins.

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Sub-tropical
  • Climber and wall shrubs
  • Wall side borders
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning

Cut back dead and flowered stems to ground level in winter.

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and aphids under glass.

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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