Escallonia Explained

Escallonia is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Escalloniaceae. They are native to North and South America.^[1]

Taxonomy

Currently valid species in Escallonia are:^[2]

• Escallonia alpina
• Escallonia angustifolia
• Escallonia bifida
• Escallonia callcottiae
• Escallonia chlorophylla
• Escallonia cordobensis
• Escallonia discolor
• Escallonia farinacea
• Escallonia florida
• Escallonia gayana
• Escallonia herrerae
• Escallonia hispida
• Escallonia hypoglauca
• Escallonia illinita
• Escallonia laevis
• Escallonia ledifolia
• Escallonia leucantha
• Escallonia megapotamica
• Escallonia micrantha
• Escallonia millegrana
• Escallonia myrtilloides
• Escallonia myrtoidea
• Escallonia obtusissima
• Escallonia paniculata
• Escallonia pendula
• Escallonia petrophila
• Escallonia piurensis
• Escallonia polifolia
• Escallonia pulverulenta
• Escallonia resinosa
• Escallonia reticulata
• Escallonia revoluta
• Escallonia rosea
• Escallonia rubra
• Escallonia salicifolia
• Escallonia schreiteri
• Escallonia serrata
• Escallonia tucumanensis
• Escallonia virgata

Cultivation

Widely cultivated and commonly used as hedging plants, especially in coastal areas, Escallonias grow about 30cm (10inches) per year, reaching 1.5- in height, with arching branches of small, oval, glossy green leaves. Flowering from June to October (in the Northern Hemisphere), they have masses of small pink, white or crimson flowers, sometimes with a honey fragrance. They are best grown in full sun with some shelter. Some varieties are not fully hardy in all areas.^[3] Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:^[4]

• 'Apple Blossom'^[5] (pink)
• 'Donard Radiance'^[6] (rose red)
• 'Iveyi'^[7] (white)
• ' Langleyensis'^[8] (rose pink)
• 'Peach Blossom'^[9] (pink)
• 'Pride of Donard'^[10] (rose red)
• Escallonia bifida^[11] (white)
• Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire'^[12] (crimson)

Notes and References

1. The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants, Ed. Christopher Brickell, Dorling Kindersly, London, 1996. . p.419
2. Web site: Escallonia — The Plant List. www.theplantlist.org. en. 2017-08-19.
3. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. Dorling Kindersley. 2008. 978-1405332965. United Kingdom. 1136.
4. Web site: AGM Plants - Ornamental . July 2017 . 37 . Royal Horticultural Society . 19 February 2018.
5. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Apple Blossom'. 19 June 2020.
6. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Donard Radiance'. 19 June 2020.
7. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Iveyi'. 19 June 2020.
8. Web site: Escallonia 'Langleyensis' . RHS . 19 June 2020.
9. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Peach Blossom'. 19 June 2020.
10. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Pride of Donard'. 19 June 2020.
11. Web site: Escallonia bifida . RHS . 19 June 2020.
12. Web site: Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire' . RHS . 19 June 2020.