About
This deciduous to semi-evergreen perennial, related to Brugmansia, with green foliage, best suited to a conservatory or greenhouse but can be grown outside against a sheltered wall. Long, trumpet-shaped orange flowers appear from August to November.
About the genus
Iochroma are evergreen or deciduous shrubs or small trees, with simple, pointed, oval leaves. The nodding or hanging tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers may be purple, blue, red, white or yellow and are followed by pulpy berries enclosed in a large calyx
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous, Semi evergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist, but well-drained soil in bright, filtered light, in a conservatory or greenhouse, although will tolerate some shade. Allow soil to dry out between waterings. If grown outside, plant in a sheltered part of the garden against a warm, sunny wall. Suitable for pots and containers which can be brought into a conservatory or greenhouse over winter
PruningPrune lightly after flowering to keep neat, but can be cut back hard, even to ground level, to encourage a compact shape and bushy habit
PropagationPropagate by root cuttings or propagate by seed sown in fine, well-draining potting compost. Place pots in a warm room in filtered sunlight - germination will normally take aroudn 6 weeks
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and mealybugs
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to Fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt