Lotus maculatus
Trefoil, Orange dove's bill
- Height × spread
- 0.2m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This seldom seen plant delights with its trailing habit, making a dome of silvery green foliage. The leaflets are linear and are held on light plum coloured branches. It flowers in late spring and early summer when it delighted the eye with its improbable flowers. These look like the claws of lobsters, and are coloured in vivid orange and red tints. This plant comes from the Canary islands and is not frost hardy. It stands around 20cm (8in) in height and will spread happily outwards, but a spread of 1m (3ft) is likely in a season.
- Flower colour
- Orange, Red
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Prostrate
- Height
- 0.2m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Found in
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