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Conservatory Greenhouse

Agapetes serpens 'Scarlet Elf'

creeping agapetes 'Scarlet Elf'

A lax, evergreen shrub with small, pointed, dark green leaves and bright red, urn-shaped flowers 2cm long, hanging beneath the stems in late winter and spring. An unusual shrub for a conservatory or frost-free greenhouse, or outdoors in a very sheltered garden

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, 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: Ericaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Toxic if ingested. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Agapetes can be upright or scrambling, usually evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery, opposite leaves and solitary or clustered, bell-shaped, tubular or urn-shaped flowers with 5 short lobes
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in ericaceous compost in bright, filtered light. In the growing season water freely and apply a balanced liquid feed monthly. Water sparingly in winter. Outdoors grow in well-drained acidic soil in a very sheltered position in bright, filtered light

Propagation

Propagate by taking semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, or by layering in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 11

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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