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Shrubs

Lophomyrtus × ralphii 'Kathryn'

A half-hardy, rounded, evergreen shrub to 2m tall, primarily grown for its foliage. The small, glossy oval leaves are flushed purple and blistered between the veins. In summer, mature plants produce open, cup-shaped white flowers with a prominent boss of stamens; these are followed by blackish-red berries

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Loam

Chalk

Clay

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or 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: Myrtaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Lophomyrtus are evergreen shrubs or small trees with simple, leathery leaves, four-petaled flowers with prominent stamens and purple-black to red berries
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright, filtered light. During the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade, with the protection of a warm wall

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Climber and wall shrubs
Conservatory and greenhouse
Wall side borders

Pruning

See pruning group 1; may require restrictive pruning under glass

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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