Lycianthes rantonnetii
Blue potato bush, Paraguay night-shade
Also known as Solanum rantonnetii
- Height × spread
- 1.8m × 2m
- 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. It has rounded flowers that look like those of convolvulus or the much loved blue morning glory. The flowers are coloured blue violet with darker striping and a golden heart, and can be carried singly or in small groups on long branches. The flowers should appear all summer and are followed by red fruits. The tree has paired leaves that are quite good-sized and have the unusual characteristic that their individual sizes are quite often noticeably different. This plant is intolerant of cold and so may be grown as an annual or brought in during the cold months. It is happy in coastal areas. Pruning is recommended as it responds by becoming more floriferous (i.e. it produces more flowers!). It prefers soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 1.8m
- Spread
- 2m
- Season of interest
- 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-Autumn · Planting
Prune after flowering
As soon as flowering is over the plant should be generally reduced in size by cutting back all the spreading branches and shoots. They are reduced so there are only 3 or 4 buds on each stalk.
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.