Chilean lantern tree

Chilean lantern tree: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright, dense shrub 2–3 m tall and about 2 m wide.

Foliage

Narrow and lance-shaped, 5–10 cm, leathery and dark green with a toothed edge; evergreen.

Flower

Hanging, fleshy, lantern-shaped flowers of 2–3 cm, crimson, on long stalks, in May–June.

Buds

Visible from late summer; they hang on the shrub all winter.

Roots

Fine and fairly shallow: they must stay cool and moist.

Flowering: May–June · Plants: April–May · Pruning: April and July

Why grow it?

• Spectacular crimson lanterns in May–June, unlike almost any other shrub.
• The flower buds already hang from the branches all winter: a promise of spring.
• Evergreen, dark green foliage that gives structure all year round.
• A perfect partner for camellias, rhododendrons and ferns in a sheltered shade garden.
• Bees and bumblebees visit the hanging flowers.

Chilean lantern tree: where does it grow best?

• Partial or light shade; no full midday sun, which scorches the leaves.
• Acid, humus-rich soil: sand, loam or peat. It will not grow on chalky soil.
• Normally moist to moist, but free-draining: the roots must never dry out.
• Sheltered from cold, drying winds, ideally near a wall or among other evergreens.
• Allow about 2 m of space.

Light

Partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or peat

Acidity

Acid

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

3 m tall, 2 m wide

Hardiness

Half hardy (to -10 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Camellia: Enjoys the same acid, sheltered spot and flowers earlier.
• Rhododendron: The same soil and a long succession of spring flowers.
• Ferns: Fresh green at its feet in the shade.
• Japanese maple: Fine leaves and autumn colour beside the dark foliage.
• Hydrangea: Takes over the flowering in summer, in the same moist partial shade.

Chilean lantern tree: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April–May, so that it is well rooted before winter.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and backfill with peat-free ericaceous compost and leaf mould.
3. Set the shrub at the same depth as it was in the pot and firm the soil gently.
4. Keep about 2 m away from other shrubs.
5. Water in thoroughly with rainwater straight away and keep the soil moist during the first year.
6. Mulch with leaf mould, pine needles or composted bark.

Care

Watering

Regularly in dry spells, ideally with rainwater: hard tap water gradually makes the soil less acid.

Feeding

In April, an organic fertiliser for acid-loving plants or a layer of leaf mould.

Mulching

A thick layer of mulch every spring keeps the roots cool and moist.

In a pot

It can grow in a large pot of ericaceous compost; water regularly and keep it frost-free in winter.

Tip: Plant it among other evergreens such as a camellia or rhododendron: they block the cold wind and keep its roots cool.

Chilean lantern tree: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April and July.

When: It needs little pruning. If necessary, prune in July, straight after flowering; cut out frost-damaged twigs in April.

How:

• Lightly shorten flowered stems and overlong shoots to keep the shape.
• Wait until April to remove frost damage, when you can see where the new leaves are appearing.
• Remove dead and weak stems at the base.

Caution: The flower buds form as early as late summer: if you prune after August, you lose next year’s flowers.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In July–August: 10 cm cuttings in a mix of sand and ericaceous compost, under plastic. Overwinter them frost-free.

Seed

Sow fresh seed in spring in acid seed compost; the seedlings grow slowly and take several years to flower.

Chilean lantern tree: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −10 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Moderately hardy, to about −10 °C: in a sheltered spot it survives most Belgian winters.
• In hard frost, protect it with fleece and spread a thick layer of mulch over the roots.
• Young plants are more tender: give them extra protection for their first few winters.
• In a pot: move it in winter to a cool, bright, frost-free place.

Diseases and pests

• Yellow leaves: Chlorosis caused by lime in the soil or in the watering water. Use rainwater and mulch with pine needles or leaf mould.
• Frost damage: Brown leaves and dead shoots after a hard winter. Wait until April, then cut out the dead wood; it often resprouts.
• Scorched leaves: Brown patches and edges caused by strong sun or drying wind. Choose a cooler, sheltered spot.
• Bud drop: Dry roots in summer or autumn make buds and leaves fall. Water and keep the mulch layer thick.

Through the year

• January: Cover with fleece in hard frost.
• April: Plant. Cut out frost-damaged twigs. Mulch.
• May: In flower: crimson lanterns. Plant.
• June: In flower. Water in dry spells, ideally with rainwater.
• July: Prune lightly after flowering. Take semi-ripe cuttings.
• August: Take cuttings. Water in dry spells.
• September: The new flower buds appear.
• November: Mulch over the roots. Move pots to a frost-free place.
• December: Keep fleece ready. The buds already hang on the shrub.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• In its homeland it grows in the cool, rainy forests of southern Chile.
• There is a related species, Crinodendron patagua, with white, bell-shaped flowers.
• Its English name, Chilean lantern tree, refers to the hanging, lantern-shaped flowers.