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Shrubs

Lotus berthelotii

coral gem

A trailing or ground covering evergreen sub shrub to 20cm in height, with silver-grey linear leaves and rich orangey-red pairs of pointed flowers in spring and early summer

Other common names

parrot's beak
pelican's beak
see morewinged pea

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Chalk

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

Drought resistance

Yes

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: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Trailing, Matforming
Genus: Lotus can be annuals, perennials, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, with simple or compound leaves and pea-like flowers that may be solitary or clustered
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Canary & Cape Verde Islands

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained compost in full sun. Under glass, grow in a loam -based compost with added grit. Water sparingly in winter. Water freely in summer and feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 19-24°C or semi-ripe cuttings in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
hanging basket
Mediterranean climate plants
Sub-tropical
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

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

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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