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Solanum laciniatum
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Posted by miranda_uk N Lincs (My Page) on Sun, May 15, 05 at 5:16
| I think it's also called Kangaroo Apple.
I was given a small plant and am wondering what to do with it. It's written up as a fairly tender vine so I suppose it could scramble up some supports for the summer, or it may provide some cover for a warm wall.
Has anyone else grown it? What did you think of it? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Solanum laciniatum
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| Its not a vine Miranda - more of a large, sprawling shrub capable of supporting itself perfectly well. It can be trained against a sunny wall and will provide masses of very showy, rich blue flowers in large clusters for much of the summer. It is a superb shrub when growing well, but is somewhat frost tender and can only cope with light occasional frosts. Down here in South Devon, it self sets very freely and is an extremely vigorous grower reaching 7 or 8 feet in its first year from seed and often continues flowering throughout winter. Thankfully it can be pruned hard almost at any time except during really cold weather, so keeping it in check is not a problem. A warm, sunny spot and well drained soil will help it along and to be certain of not losing it, save a few berries so you can grow spare seedlings should you lose the main plant in winter. Actually, the true 'Kangaroo Apple' is a distantly related species - Solanum aviculare, which is less of a sprawler with rather fine, willow-like leaves and a more elegant style of growth. Unfortunately, it is even more tender and as with laciniatum, young plants race away and flower with great enthusiasm in their first year. However, they are usually badly hit by cold weather and not really suitable for growing permanently out of doors except in the warmest of regions. |
RE: Solanum laciniatum
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| Thanks, Dave. That's really good information. 7-8 feet? Oh god, what am I going to do with it?! Will have to think hard about where to put it. All the warm wall space is taken up already, but maybe it can stay in a pot somewhere. Looking forward to seeing how it gets on. |
RE: Solanum laciniatum
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| I currently have one of these plants growing in an eighteen inch plastic pot (has to be plastic because if the wind catches the plant and it goes over terracotta smashes). The plant is about 3 years old already in bloom and over wintered this year outside close to a south facing house wall. During the growing season it needs regular watering. I think because it is pot bound it means that the pot is very free draining and this helps in the winter. I think that first year plants are likely to need winter protection (cold garage or greenhouse is okay). I really only left this out as a trial and because I am running out of space in greenhouse shed and garage as I also have some large Daturas that need over wintering. Hope that helps. |
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