Solanum Potato Flower Climber
The plant family Solanaceae is large and diverse from the nightshades, through tomatoes, potatoes and peppers to daturas and Solanum there is a detailed explanation of these species on hvanbalken.com
Gardeners Solanum Tips
- The Chilean potato vine Solanum Crispum is just the vigorous climber to give your sunny wall an exotic look.
- It has wiry stems which need tying up to wires or trellis for support. Prune and tie in to retain the required shape.
- The small semi-evergreen leaves remain on the plant in all but bad winters and easily reach 6 feet tall.
- The potato-like flowers with lilac petals around a pointed yellow centre, appear continuously from mid-summer to mid-autumn. The variety ‘Glasnevin’ is the one to choose, as it flowers more prolifically and is also slightly hardier.
- They are pest and disease free once established.
- Plants like a moist but well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alakaline in pH.
- To propagate take cuttings from summer to early autumn. If buying from a garden centre buy when in bloom as some varieties have disappointing blossom
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