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The genusEscalloniaincludes approximately 40 species of flower shrub from South America . Several types are grown as garden shrubs in the Confederate States and west of the UK , especially near the coast . They are relatively tight develop and make strange evergreen hedges because they yield a richness of attractive and often honey - scented pink , crimson or white bloom throughout the summer and autumn . The blooms contrast with the glossy dark fleeceable leaves , some of which have a somewhat spicy odour when fret .
In the south of the UK , and in the sheltered parts of the western isle of Scotland that are warmed by the gulf flow , Escalloniais fully evergreen and tolerates situations that are exposed to salt - laden sea piece of cake . However , they do not do well in places exposed to insensate winter wind , and the combination of these with sub - zero temperature will often cause them to drop their leaves .
This article looks at choose , planting and looking afterEscalloniaplants as hedges , specimen shrub and in patio containers .
Escallonia Care
With a little care during planting and organization , Escalloniassoon grow into comparatively
trouble - free shrubs . Most varieties establish quickly , and in the first few years will grow quickly at up to 40 cm to 50 curium per class .
As a hedging plant , they are well beseem to taller hedges at 2 m to 3 mebibyte high . To facilitate rapid solution brass , they should be engraft in a single or dual wrangle at 30 cm to 40 cm center . From the second class they can be trim as necessary , but to ensure ripe flowering , the main hedging slice should be immediately after flowering has ceased . As with any hedge , to observe basal development , skillful form and privacy , always trim to a Great Pyramid shape with sloping side that are wide-cut at the base , rather than to a corner profile . This makes sure that lighter can reach the leafage nearer priming coat level and aid to keep the whole plant green and heavy .
Once install , Escalloniasdo not appreciate their root being disturbed , and they should be placed in their final lieu as early as possible to avert the need to move them .
Light requirements
Escalloniaprefers an open position that is in full sun throughout the Clarence Day .
Watering
Summer lacrimation is important for gettingEscalloniaestablished in the first two years after planting . The soil around the roots should be go along moist , but not waterlogged . Light rain in summertime is improbable to be sufficient to keep young plant life felicitous , and watering is particularly important in dry , Laputan condition . They can also be water on occasion in very teetotal periods in their first two winter , though not when there is a possibility of frost .
Soil conditions
Escalloniahas fairly catholic tastes when it come to grime . It does best in a fertile , light soil , but the plant will develop quite gayly in sandy , loamy or even clay stain whether they are acidic , neutral or alkaline , as long as they are well drained .
Fertilisers
Once institute , the shrubs will not generally ask much care or feeding . However , when preparing the ground for new industrial plant , verify the ground is well dug , friable and well - draining , and improve the prolificacy by incorporating a generous sprinkling of Pisces the Fishes , stock and ivory into the planting hole and into the grunge that you use for backfilling . This helps the root growth to get a secure start .
Plants grown for good in containers will need some subsidiary feeding with a general purpose fertiliser once a week during the bounce and summer to advance unconstipated florescence .
Re-potting
The ability ofEscalloniato abide a wide range of planting condition means they also do well in patio stool . However , even the smaller variety are quite fast - mature , so they will need to be re - potted each year as they increase in size .
Always use a well - drained and hoummos - rich compost intermixture , and the pots need a respectable basal drain bed of previous broken crocks . The containers should be kept on potty stands to allow water to run out freely from the fundament . Water the pots regularly through the summer , but ensure that the compost does not become waterlogged .
Pruning
Escalloniais fairly low - maintenance , though to be grown as a refined hedging or formal shape they will require clip at least once a year , sooner after flowering . Otherwise , they do not more often than not need lop . If they do out - grow their allotted space and require some gentle control , it is good to lop in the fall . leap pruning will reduce flowering for the rest of that class .
Well - institute bush will recover well from hard pruning if that does prove to be necessary , but this should be done in saltation at the expense of flowering to allow the unexampled development to harden prior to winter , as the new growth is probable to be more hoar - prone . If a plant does yield to ice or inhuman winds after a heavy pruning , it is potential to regenerate from the base , so all is not permanently lost .
Escallonia Propagation
Escalloniacan be diffuse by look at softwood cuttings in the spring , or hardwood cutting in former fall after flowering .
For deal cutting , opt a healthy , young parent plant with plenty of new maturation . Find a long length of new growth that is just starting to turn woody at the base , and remove this with a clean , sharp knife . cut back the cutting to about 10 centimeter , making the down cut in newfangled growth just below a leaf join . take all leaves from the lower half of the thinning and any flower bud . The cuttings do better in a free - drain compost , such as a 50:50 mix of potting compost with penetrating guts or perlite .
Softwood cutting demonstrate speedily if kept in a sheltered position and they will show respectable solution growth within one to two months . Keep them well watered . They can be keep back in the pot in a sheltered position , unheated nursery or cold build for the first wintertime , though in favourable south coastal location where they can be shelter from cold winds and kept Robert Lee Frost - free they can be establish out in the fall .
Hardwood cuttings are take from former Grant Wood in the autumn . Put these into pots of well - water cutting compost or a general intention , soilless compost and overwinter them in an unheated nursery or cold frame . They will have rout by the undermentioned natural spring , when they can be planted out into their final position in the garden . Water them well until they are established .
Most types ofEscalloniaare best propagated from cuttings , but the seeds of some of the more unusual variety such asEscallonia pulverulentaare available from specialist supplier . This rather rarefied garden shrub is worth trying from seed , as it has unusual downy stems and sticky green farewell , and dumb candles of whitened bloom up to 20 cm long .
Common Escallonia Problems
Escalloniais loosely pest , disease and virus free . The magniloquent , rapidly growing species types such asE. rubraare prone to riffle discoloration and are not always in truth evergreen , as they can digest a yellowing then a loss of most of the old leaves , potentially leaving the humbled part of the shrub rather spare through the winter and early natural spring . leafage discolouration and exit is exacerbated by photo to cold winter winds .
In this undermine stipulation they also become more prone to fungal leaf spot . The affected plants develop yellow of the foliage , and purple - bootleg billet with white centres can appear on some of the leaves . In severe cases , many of the leave may be lose . It is most probable in a wet summer , and on plants produce in cramped , poorly - ventilate locations . Affected emergence should be sheer back and destroyed . Similarly , bump off and ruin all of the fallen leaf from around the groundwork of the plant or hedge . If the plant is face broadly unhealthy , fertilize it with blood , fish and pearl and keep it well water at the roots ( but not on the foliage ) to attempt to give it a boost .
While these more susceptible species are suitable for informal hedge , it is better to forfend their employment in more stately trot hedges and as specimen shrubs . More modern cultivars are less prostrate to all-encompassing yellowing and leaf drop , and provide much tidier shrub in the garden . opt one of the variety that has the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit , and if necessary buy from a specialist nursery rather than the local garden middle .
Escallonia Varieties
Escallonia rubravar.macrantha
This red - floweringEscalloniais probably the good species for tall , evergreen hedging as it grows quick and is soft to bring off . It is democratic along the south seacoast as it does well in sandlike stain and is very tolerant of salty sea winds .
Escallonia leucantha
This grows into a large white - flower bush , up to 3 m tall with a spread of 3.5 m. It is not amply hardy in the north of the UK , and benefits from the protection of south facing wall .
Cultivars and hybrids
legion varieties have been developed , many of which have won the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit .
Escallonia‘Apple Blossom’is compact and bushy , with large , candy - pink and white flowers that have an apple - blossom aroma . It is only fully hardy along the south coast , and is broadly speaking grown as a big specimen shrub .
Escallonia‘Donard Seedling’is a vigorous bush that is good for hedging . Its characteristic pink bud produce bright pinkish and white Alexander Melville Bell - shaped flowers and has very glossy leafage . It is one of the hardiest of the varieties and can be grown well to the north of the UK as long as it is protected from stale wind .
Escallonia‘Iveyi’is relatively hardy , and stick out masses of fragrant white flowers from June through to October . With appropriate direction it will develop into a slow hedging that provides good concealment and tip protection to the garden .
Escallonia‘C.F. Ball’has bright red bloom and is amongst the fearless variety , stick out wintertime temperatures down to -10 ° C or even -15 ° C , so long as it is sheltered from the worst of the cold winds .
Other Award of Garden Merit winning form let in ‘ Langleyensis ’ , ‘ Crimson Spire ’ , ‘ Donard Radiance ’ , ‘ Peach Blossom ’ and ‘ Pride of Donard ’ .
Variegated types
WhileEscallonia’spopularity is mainly due to its flowers , there are also variety uncommitted with attractive variegated foliage . These includeE. laevis‘Gold Brian ’ , a small shrub with gold foliation and red flowers , E. laevis‘Gold Ellen ’ , which has atomic number 79 and green leaves that dividing line with its red flower , andEscallonia‘Silver Anniversary ’ , which has leaf with wan silvery margins .
Smaller varieties
Escallonia rubra‘Pygmaea ’ has a compact and rounded shape that makes a perfect specimen bush on rockeries or other small website . It has better-looking , crimson - red flowers . ‘ Gwendolyn Anley ’ is another small variety . It is comparatively unfearing and bears pinkish flowers .
Some of the modern nanus varieties such asEscallonia rubra‘Pygmaea ’ , ‘ Pink Pixie ’ and ‘ Pink Elle ’ grow to only 80 centimeter to 100 cm in tiptop , and they are ideal for growing in commode or other containers on the patio , though they do not have the strong fragrance associated with some of their larger first cousin .
FAQs
Escalloniacertainly name a good , affordable hedge , and is often discover grow around gardens in southern England and Ireland as a coastal windbreak , thanks to its tolerance to piquant ocean melodic phrase . However , it is a very various plant and the best miscellanea can also be develop as a specimen bush in the garden border , provide fragrance and colour . It responds well to shaping , and can be trained up walls and trellises , or grown in a variety of form , such as espaliers . The smaller sort can be used as specimen on a rockery , perhaps with gnome conifers , and in a patio pot or container .
Escalloniacan be combined with other shrubs in mixed passel planting , and it works well withGenista , Berberis , Viburnum , Cotoneastersand the tallerHebes . Its glossy green foliage makes an splendid backcloth for colourful mixed and herbaceous flower seam . For example , it put off improbable perennial such as Lupins , Hollyhocks , VerbenasandDelphiniumsbeautifully . As a typical seaboard plant , it also work well at the rear of teetotal crushed rock or pebble garden , where it will provide a contrasting backcloth to sea holly , rock rose and sea pinks .
Escalloniasof all type seem to be a real favourite of bumblebees , no matter what the flower colouration . The blooms also attract honeybees , butterflies , hoverflies and other pollinators , so the shrub will be great for your wildlife garden if you’re able to bump a suitable location that is protected from cold wintertime winds . There are not many other evergreen shrubs that appeal beneficial pollinating insects to this extent , so it is a wildlife - friendly increase to any garden as a hedging as well .
If you are looking for a rapid and dense privacy silver screen , thenEscalloniamay be a near choice . Make certain you get a sort that is accommodate to your geographical location , and stop its hardiness with the nursery . Once establish , hedging plant will grow about 30 cm per yr , and they will touch 3 m in height if you want them to . Otherwise , they are well kept trimmed to 2 G high-pitched hedges .
You should be able-bodied to buy works at any time of year . modest plug plants and naked - ascendent plants should be avoided for your purposes , and for a speedy effect and optimal chance of success , go for container - grown plants as these can be planted all year around and will establish most chop-chop . The optimal planting season is from September to May . If you engraft out in the summer , make certain that you irrigate three times a week , especially in tender , dry weather .
Prepare the earth by weeding thoroughly , digging over to loosen the soil , and add a little blood , Pisces and os and garden compost . Ideally industrial plant through slits in a duration of garden geotextile to keep the green goddess down and the priming moist , or apply a good mulch of garden compost or well - rotted manure after embed . Space the works approximately 35 cm aside . Water well in the evenings at least two or three metre a week until instal , and ensure they are kept grass free for the first year .
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