Solanum question

[MartinNicklin]

This is a question which possibly Charlie may be able to give an answer to, being our climbing plant expert.

I planted a Glasnevin about 5 years ago, initially to cover a bit of trellis. However, it grew and grew and took over two very large leylandii in next door’s garden. It is stunning in flower and entirely covers both my side and his side of the conifers, giving the impression of two very large blue flowering trees. I’d say that we are looking at an area 50-60ft is covered.

My neighbour is now considering removing the trees which is fine by me as they sap all the moisture from the entire side of my garden.

If I prune (or saw!) the Solanum to the bare trunks, is it likely to re-sprout or will it be too much stress? The photos show the area I would have to prune the beast to in order to bring it back down to fence height of about 6ft.





PS just found this pic I took earlier this year showing the scale of what I would have to remove. Bearing in mind my greenhouse is 16ft long and on his side of the garden the Solanum trails down to the ground. I’m not sure it could survive such a beating.

[charlie]

Martin, I regularly used to cut ours down to stumps each winter (before it succumbed to potato blight) and the gardeners at the Bishops palace Wells were even more brutal so I would say go for it while its dormant

[MartinNicklin]

Thanks Charlie. That’s good to know.

[Chad]

Magnificent picture of a magnificent plant Martin.

I can't keep it alive here. Like Charlie's my attempts have failed to potato blight.

I've given up on the whole genus, which is a pity, I was starting to explore some of the lesser know species, but all failed.

Chad

[David F]

I had no idea this vine could grow to such sizes nor have these tree-like trunks! Ones I’ve planted haven’t given me indications they could get so massive, but it’s a great evergreen here which is in near constant bloom.

[MartinNicklin]

In reality David, it would be a hell of a lot bigger. I have to hack it back by several metres, several times a year. TBH if my neighbour did fell his trees, it would be a bitter-sweet thing. On the one hand, that side of the garden would get massively more light and moisture. On the other, they have been a splendid frame for the vine, giving months of colour and visible from the road as two enormous tropical looking blue trees. This photo looking upwards shows the way it has obliterated the boring leylandii and looks superb against a blue sky. I did plant a Crèche du Pape alongside it but that perished and in a local garden I saw the white version the other day and thought how nice it would be intertwined with the blue … if it could get started next to such a thug!