About
Mackaya bella, the forest bell bush, is a spreading, evergreen shrub to 1.5 m from South Africa with glossy, rich-green, elliptic leaves and racemes of slightly two-lipped, funnel-shaped, pale-lilac flowers 5 cm across, finely veined with purple, produced over a long period from spring to autumn. A beautiful and rewarding shrub for a warm, sheltered, shaded, frost-free garden or conservatory.
About the genus
Mackaya are evergreen shrubs from South Africa with simple, elliptic, glossy leaves and terminal racemes of showy, funnel-shaped, pale-lilac, purple-veined flowers over a long season from spring to autumn. Grown in warm, sheltered, shaded, frost-free gardens and conservatories.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toTemp S Africa
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright filtered light, or full light with shade from hot sun. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly
PruningPrune to restrict growth under glass in late winter
PropagationPropagate by seed or semi-ripe cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free