Lycianthes rantonnetii 'Variegata'
Blue potato bush, Paraguay night-shade
Also known as Solanum rantonnetii 'Variegata'
- Height × spread
- 1.8m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A tender shrub that flowers all summer producing rounded blue flowers, yellow eyed that bear a strong similarity to those of convolvulus. It should flower all summer and then there are red fruits. The leaves are variegated, coloured fresh green with a creamy edge, irregularly applied. The combination of the foliage and the freely borne flowers is very attractive. This is a tender plant and is often grown as an annual, or grown in a container that is brought in during the cold months. This plant prefers soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Grey, White
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- Yes
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 1.8m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Summer - mid · Planting
Prune old stems
Stems that have flowered should be largely removed, cutting them back to a healthy shoot that is near to the base of the stem.
Summer-Autumn · Planting
Support young plants
Provide support for young plants, and tie in any growth to the support to keep it tidy.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + grit for repotting
Use a free draining loam based compost rather than one which has been modified to be 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare a compost using three parts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3) to one part of (horticultural) sand or fine (horticultural) grit.