Embothrium coccineum
Embothrium coccineum
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Embothrium coccineum can be surprisingly cold-tolerant - given a warm, sheltered position they can generally withstand temperatures falling to aroun -10 to -15°c and there are reports of narrow-leaved forms of the plant having withstood short-lived lows to around -30°c[1]. The plant grows in semi-arid areas (with a dry season of up to 5 months) and a mean annual rainfall of 400 - 800mm; it is also found in more humid areas with year-round rainfall[2]. Requires a warm, sheltered fairly sunny position, growing best in a light, deep, well-drained soil with a neutral to acid pH[1]. Plants are intolerant of lime in the soil[1]. Plants are hardier in soils of moderate fertility - if the soil is too fertile the plant produces lush growth that is more likely to experience damage in the winter[1]. Within its native range the plant can be found growing in very exposed positions close to the sea - though there it is reduced to a small bush[3]. Any prunig is best carried out after flowering[1].
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a lightly shaded position in containers. Germination is best at 13 - 16°c[1]. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow on for their first winter in a greenhouse or frame. Plant out in spring after the last expected frosts and consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors. Division of root suckers. (These can be stimulated into production by scarring the roots)[1]. Root cuttings[1]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Embothrium+coccineum>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [2]ChileFlora — http://www.chileflora.com/index.html ↩︎Not realy a flora, but a lovely site with lots of helpful information for the gardener and an abundance of excellent photos covering over 2,000 species of Chilean plants.
- [3]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
- [4]Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported Vol. 21 — USDA Government Printing Office; Washington DC. · 1911 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Details of seeds imported for trials by the United States Department of Agriculture in the last quarter of 1909, often detailing the uses of the plant and various other miscellaneous information. It can be downloaded from the Internet.