Clianthus puniceus

[AndyC]

I'm thinking of growing one of these plants against the south facing wall of our sun room. How do they climb, do they need a trellis on which to cling?. Ta!

[Paul S]

They don't really 'climb' as such, just kind of flollop through things. Tying on a trellis is probably best.

All my attempts at growing this have been thwarted by molluscs. Take heed! They can strip a plant to a skeleton overnight.

[flounder]

Meh, slug food. Totally given up with these now, so much so, I bought more seeds this weekend!
It's definitely the last time I do this.....probably

[Chad]

Andy, are you growing from seed or buying a plant?

They come true to colour from seed; red, pink or white and will flower in a year.

The 'tougher' Clianthus puniceus subs. maxima that was circulating under the name 'Kaka King' has been split off as a separate species now; Clianthus maximus with larger flowers and glossy leaves. In New Zealand it has almost completely replaced Clianthus puniceus in horticulture even though it only comes in red. I don't know how they compare under UK conditions.

They are both critically endangered with only one population of each still in 'the wild'.

Good 'links' for maximus at Annies Annuals and Strange Wonderful things. Links for puniceus at Annies and [as the pink form] Strange Wonderful things.

I understand that they don't like summer heat [the above sources suggest over 29C can make them unhappy]. How hot does your sun room get?

Chad

[Paul S]

I understand that they don't like summer heat [the above sources suggest over 29C can make them unhappy]. How hot does your sun room get?

My late buddy Tim grew one to considerable size against a south facing outhouse wall. Round these parts that probably equates to mid to upper 30s fairly regularly and some years for extended periods. I suppose it could have been even more vigorous had it not been in such a hot spot - difficult to say - but it always looked happy.

[AndyC]

I didn't explain myself very well. I intend growing the said plant outside against the sun room wall. The back garden slopes away from the house so from the soil level to the bottom of the window frames is 6ft and the sun room is 16ft wide so plenty of room for growing. The wall faces south (ish) and is the least likely place in the garden to get any frost but it would be a rare occurrence to get 30C.
I intend buying a plant rather than growing from seed. Burncoose (and I expect other nurseries) stock them in the summer months.

It will be a straight forward job to put a bit of trellis against the wall so I will do that. Thanks for all the tips.

[Chad]

Burncoose do the full range of colours; which are you going for?

I covet 16ft of south facing wall.

Chad

[AndyC]

Burncoose do the full range of colours; which are you going for?

Chad

A bright red flower colour is what I would like. Burncoose have one called 'Red Cardinal' which I think would look good.

[charlie]

Since the withdrawal of liquid slug killer I have had to give up with these, snails just shred them if on a wall. I may however try again having come up with a solution with my outdoor Lapageria which suffered similar problems with snails on walls, I now grow near a wall but not on it using stretched clear fishing line as support - so far so good!