Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Escallonia rubra (Ruiz. & Pav.) Pers.

Fully hardy, vigorous, variable, evergreen shrub with peeling bark, toothed, glossy green leaves and loose panicles, to 10cm long, of tubular, dark crimson to pink flowers, 1cm long, in summer and autumn.  To 5m by 5m.  It makes useful screens and windbreaks and in milder regions can be clipped as hedging for more formal situations.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].  There are now many garden cultivars of Escallonia available, many of them hybrids.  [Hilliers’].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Raised from seeds, sent about two years ago by Mr. Cruikshanks from Chili, in the Botanic Garden of Liverpool, where, in September of the present year (1828) it has produced its richly-coloured blossoms.’  [BM t.2890/1829].  ‘This was raised in 1826 by Mr. Shepherd of Liverpool: it is a moderate sized shrub usually kept in the greenhouse, but will probably succeed in a sheltered situation out of doors.’  [LBC no.1659/1832].

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.433/1843].

Notes

Escallonia rubra Bert. ex Steud. (1840) = Escallonia illinita C.Presl, from Chile.

Published Mar 14, 2009 - 05:09 PM | Last updated Mar 17, 2010 - 04:45 PM

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Illustrated are toothed, glossy leaves and panicles of tubular, dark pink flowers. Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.2890, 1829.

Escallonia rubra (Ruiz. & Pav.) Pers. | BM t.2890/1829 | BHL

Family Escalloniaceae
Category
Region of origin

Chile, Argentina
Synonyms
Common Name

Escallonia
Name in the Camden Park Record

Escallonia rubra 
Confidence level high