Chilean glory flower

Chilean glory flower: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Climber with thin stems that cling by leaf tendrils; 2–3 m tall and about 1 m wide.

Leaves

Twice divided, fresh green, with a tendril at the tip of each leaf that it uses to cling.

Flower

Tubular, 2–3 cm, in loose clusters at the tips of the shoots, from June to October.

Colour

Orange-red with a yellow rim; there are also yellow, pink and red varieties.

Fruit

Inflated, pod-like fruits containing winged seeds.

Roots

Fleshy and branching; they like free-draining soil and rot with wet feet.

Flowering: June–October · Sowing: February–March · Plants: May · Pruning: April

Why grow it?

• Grows at lightning speed and covers a fence, obelisk or pergola post in a single season.
• Flowers from June to October with orange-red tubular blooms.
• Attracts bees and bumblebees; in Chile the flowers are visited by hummingbirds.
• Fine, divided foliage gives an airy effect, even when there are no flowers.
• Easy to grow from seed: the plant is quick and cheap to propagate.

Chilean glory flower: where does it grow best?

• Full sun, preferably against a warm, south-facing wall or fence.
• Humus-rich, well-drained soil: sandy or loamy, acid to chalky.
• Normally moist: water regularly, without wet feet.
• Sheltered from cold wind; a wall or hedge helps it through the winter.
• Plant 40–50 cm apart and provide support of netting, wires or a trellis.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

3 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Tolerates light frost (to -5 °C)

Goes well with

• Clematis: Blue or purple flowers next to the orange clusters, on the same support.
• Sweet pea: An annual climber in blue or purple for a colourful contrast.
• Climbing rose: A sturdy climber with a longer flowering season on the same wall.
• Lavender: A low, fragrant edge at the foot, in the same sunny soil.
• Honeysuckle: Fragrant flowers and a natural companion against a hedge or fence.

Chilean glory flower: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May.

1. Plant out in May, once the last night frosts have passed.
2. Harden off home-grown plants first for a week: outside by day, inside at night.
3. Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball and mix in a little compost.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot, 15–20 cm from the wall or support.
5. Water in well straight away and gently guide the first shoots towards the support.
6. Spread a mulch of leaf mould or bark around the base.

Care

Water

Water regularly, especially in dry weather and in pots; make sure the soil never dries out completely.

Feeding

Every three weeks use a feed for flowering plants; too much nitrogen gives lots of leaves and few flowers.

Support

Gently guide the stems against the trellis, netting or wires; the tendrils only grip thin supports.

Deadheading

Cut off finished clusters to prolong flowering.

Mulching

A layer of compost or bark keeps the roots cool in summer and protected in winter.

Tip: Sow indoors in February–March and plant against a sunny wall: there it sometimes survives a mild winter. In autumn cover the base with a thick layer of mulch.

Chilean glory flower: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April.

When: In April, once it has overwintered and the new shoots are starting.

How:

• Cut frosted or dead stems back to healthy, green wood.
• Cut the plant back to about 30 cm above the ground if it is very bare.
• In summer you can shorten finished clusters and shoots that are too long.

Caution: Do not cut too early: wait until it no longer freezes, otherwise freshly sprouted shoots may be frosted.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow indoors in February–March at 15–20 °C. The seed is winged and germinates fairly readily. Pot the seedlings on and plant them out in May.

Softwood cuttings

In summer: take 8–10 cm cuttings from non-flowering shoots and insert in damp compost under plastic. Overwinter them frost-free.

Chilean glory flower: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −5 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Hardy to about −5 °C, but in cold winters it usually dies back to the ground.
• Against a sheltered, sunny wall with a thick mulch of 10–15 cm of leaves or bark, it often regrows from the base.
• Bring a potted plant indoors, frost-free, and water sparingly.
• Always keep some seed or a few cuttings as insurance.

Diseases and pests

• Aphids: Small green insects on young tips. Rinse off with water or let ladybirds clear them.
• Slugs: They eat young plants just after planting out. Hand-pick or put down a slug barrier.
• Frost damage: Black, limp shoots after a late frost. Wait and cut off damaged parts; often it regrows.
• Few flowers: Usually too much nitrogen or too little sun. Feed less and give it a sunnier spot.

Through the year

• February: Sow indoors at 15–20 °C.
• March: Keep sowing. Prick out seedlings.
• April: Cut back overwintered plants. Put up the support.
• May: Plant out after the last frost. Guide the first shoots towards the support.
• June: First flowers. Feed.
• July: Full flower. Water in drought.
• August: Flowering. Take cuttings. Cut off finished clusters.
• September: Flowering. Let seed ripen for next year.
• October: Last flowers. Mulch or clear the plant after frost.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name Eccremocarpus comes from the Greek and means ‘hanging fruit’, after the pod-like fruits that dangle from the plant.
• It belongs to the trumpet-vine family (Bignoniaceae), like the trumpet vine and the catalpa.
• In Chile the tubular flowers are visited by hummingbirds, which reach the nectar with their long beaks.