Top 5... winter conservatory shrubs
Give yourself an indoor treat with these colourful late season performers
1 Justicia rizzinii
Rounded, densely-branched, evergreen shrub from Brazil. Narrow, tubular, red and yellow flowers are produced prolifically from autumn to spring. Any moist, welldrained potting compost, in sun or semishade. Survives temperatures down to 10C (50F). H: 60cm (2ft), S: 45cm (1½ft) in a pot.
Tip Keep compost moist, don’t allow to dry out.
From www.burncoose.co.uk; tel: 01209 860316.
2 Solanum capsicastrum
Stubby, branched, evergreen shrub in the tomato family native to Central and South America producing glossy, but poisonous, orange-red fruit in winter from small, white flowers in summer. Any moist, well-drained potting compost, in sun. Prone to infestation by red spider mite. H/S: 60cm (2ft).
Tip Easy to grow from seed sown in spring, or from cuttings taken in late winter.
From Seasonally available from most good garden centres.
3 Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’
Award-winning, twiggy, evergreen Australian shrub with small, grey-green leaves. Small clusters of tubular, bi-coloured flowers from autumn to spring. Hardy to 1C (34F). Use well-drained, ericaceous potting compost, in sun or semi-shade. H/S: 1.2m (4ft) in a pot.
Tip Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer.
From www.burncoose.co.uk; tel: 01209 860316. 4 Plumbago auriculata Ever-flowering evergreen, weakstemmed, widely-branching climber from South Africa. Heads of soft blue, phloxlike blooms in summer and intermittently through winter. Can withstand temperatures down to 1C (34F). Any moist, well-drained soil, in sun. Relatively drought tolerant. H: 1.8m (6ft), S: 1.2m (4ft).
Tip Prune back shoots to keep compact and tie in to a cane framework.
From www.westcountrylupins.co.uk; tel: 01237 431111. 5 Acacia dealbata Vigorous, evergreen Australian shrub with dainty, blue-green foliage, composed from tiny leaflets. Branching spikes of bright yellow, sweetly scented, pom-pom flowers from January over many weeks. Any moist, well-drained potting compost, in sun. H: 3m (10ft), S: 1.2m (4ft) in a pot.
Tip Lightly prune after flowers have faded to keep plant compact.
From www.kelways.co.uk; tel: 01458 250521.