About
Colletia hystrix is a nearly leafless, bushy shrub that can reach dimensions of up to 3 meters in height and width. Its grey-green stems are adorned with numerous sharp, rigid spines, which can grow up to 4 centimeters long. In late summer and early autumn, small clusters of tiny, fragrant white flowers emerge from the spines.
About the genus
Colletia consists of spiny, deciduous shrubs that feature sparse foliage and produce small, tubular flowers with a pleasant fragrance, typically blooming in late summer or autumn.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Architectural, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
- Native to
- S Chile, Argentina
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, sheltered from cold, dry winds
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1; can tolerate moderately hard pruning
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings of short sideshoots in late summer
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free