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Red Escallonia Escallonia rubra

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
es-kuh-LOW-nee-uh ROO-bruh
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
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#shrub#broadleaf evergreen#windbreak#salt spray tolerant#frost tolerant#acidic soils tolerant#evergreen shrub#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#humidity intolerant#shrub borders#shade intolerant#broadleaf#butterfly garden#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Frades
Frades
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#shrub#broadleaf evergreen#windbreak#salt spray tolerant#frost tolerant#acidic soils tolerant#evergreen shrub#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#humidity intolerant#shrub borders#shade intolerant#broadleaf#butterfly garden#long lived
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    A berry.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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