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Shrubs

Colletia paradoxa

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A rounded deciduous shrub to 3m, with stems bearing many blue-green, flattened, triangular spines and small clusters of fragrant white flowers in autumn

Synonyms

Colletia bictonensis
Colletia cruciata

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–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)

Botanical details

Family: Rhamnaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Colletia are spiny deciduous shrubs with sparse leaves and small, fragrant, tubular flowers in late summer or autumn
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Argentina, S Brazil

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sheltered border or against a warm, sunny wall, or in a cool greenhouse

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings of short sideshoots in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Mediterranean climate plants
Architectural
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1: tip prune young plants to promote bushiness. Tolerates moderately hard pruning

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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