Cantua buxifolia
sacred flower of the Incas
An upright, often half-climbing, evergreen shrub. In spring it produces sprays of hanging tubular flowers which are pink to purple with red petal lobes
Synonyms
Cantua dependens
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink Purple Red | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Polemoniaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Cantua are evergreen small shrubs or trees with arching or scrambling branches and showy, terminal corymbs of narrowly tubular flowers with five spreading lobes, in a range of colours
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Andes of Bolivia, Peru & Chile
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Plants may be stood outdoors for the summer. In frost-free areas grow in a warm, sheltered position in full sun. The long, flexible stems will need support
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in heat in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 11, after flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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