A pair of exotic Clianthus

This pair of Clianthus brings together two magnificent varieties and will delight enthusiasts of exotic and unusual plants. Clianthus puniceus is a bush that owes its name to its large flowers, which resemble the beak of a parrot or the claws of a lobster. It is a tender plant of great ornamental value that can only be grown in the ground in the mildest regions. Everywhere else, it makes a beautiful terrace or balcony plant, to be stored away in winter. Its long woody climbing stems bear finely cut leaves with silky undersides, and it flowers from March to May, sometimes until September depending on the climate.

This duo consists of:

1 Clianthus puniceus 'Kaka King': flowering in a very bright red

1 Clianthus puniceus 'White Heron': flowers in pure white

To successfully grow your Clianthus, give them sunlight and a mild winter, rather chalky, fertile soil, well-drained but moist in summer. Hardy down to about -6.5°C in well-drained soil and sheltered location, they tolerate a wide range of soils, including alkaline ones, as long as they remain sufficiently moist in summer. They are shrubs made up of long, very flexible stems that can reach 3m, which are best trained on a trellis or a teepee. Otherwise, they will form a tall and wide bushy mass of 2 metres in the ground. In containers, they will often remain smaller.

Plant one Clianthus per square metre. A mixture of loam, compost, and gravel will be suitable. The growing substrate should always remain slightly moist, especially from spring to the end of summer. In autumn, bring your potted plants indoors to a bright and cool room, with a maximum temperature of 10°C. In winter, watering should be reduced, without allowing the substrate to completely dry out.

In the ground, you can associate the Clianthus from this duo with exotic shrubs such as Abutilon 'Pink Charm' with pink flowers, Polygala myrtifolia, or even a Strelitzia reginae bird of paradise.