Red Escallonia Escallonia rubra
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- es-kuh-LOW-nee-uh ROO-brah
- Description
-
The Escallonia has about 50 species of shrubs and small trees. This shrub grows in mostly coastal states, is tolerant of salt spray and is not well suited to inland summer heat and humidity. The summer flowers have a combination of white and red to rose-red coloring. The shrub is a rounded shape.
Introduced as a non-native plant, Escallonia rubra is a large shrub that can be found in small areas of coastal Oregon and Northern California along roads, bluffs and beaches.
The clusters of 4 to 40 flower heads are supported by a reddish/purple calyx which is hairy and glandular.
Pruning should be part of the regular maintenance for this plant to develop a strong structure. It can be accomplished after flowering has occurred. It is tolerant of severe pruning.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues, scale insects and Escallonia leaf spot are minor problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Frades
- Frades
- Frades
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Frades
- Frades
- Frades
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Escallonia
- Species:
- rubra
- Family:
- Escalloniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Serves as a windbreak or screening.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & South Chile to South Argentina
- Distribution:
- Oregon, California
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Wind Break
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- A berry.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flower has an open funnel shape with 5 lobes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Thick, bright green leaves are lustrous and of variable shapes, 1-2 in. long and just over an inch wide. They are tapered at the base, and serrated. The leaves can sometimes be sticky.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The reddish-green stems are multi-branched. The stems have a dense cover of short white hairs and stalked glands.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
