Clianthus puniceus Roseus

Lobster Claw Roseus

A lovely, but rather tender shrub for the larger, milder garden, Clianthus puniceus Roseus is an evergreen, climbing shrub, which will need the support of a trellis or wires, and needs to be tied in. The deep green leaves are pinnate (heavily divided). Hanging, deep pink, rather claw-like flowers appear in May and June, each 3 ½ “/7cm long. This plant benefits from being planted against a warm wall in full sun. Apply a generous, deep, dry mulch over winter. After flowering, remove any dead or damaged wood, and cut back stems by a third to promote next year’s flowers. Lobster Claw Roseus holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any light, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Late spring to early summer
Hardiness: Rather tender – hardy to -5 to -1ºC
Height: 8-13’ (2.4-4m) Spread: 8-13’ (2.4-4m) in 5-10 years