Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Large shrubs and feature plants
Indigenous (endemic to southern Africa) | Moderate Care | Large shrubs and feature plants
The forest bell bush is the plant for the shady spot where nothing else wants to flower. It is an elegant, evergreen shrub with large, glossy, dark green leaves and arching sprays of bell-shaped, white to pale lilac flowers, each marked with delicate purple veining.
It flowers profusely from spring through summer, and the blooms seem to glow in a shaded garden. It grows naturally in the understorey of coastal and mist-belt forests in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and further north, and it thrives in the kind of sheltered, shady conditions that most flowering shrubs struggle in. It is not a wind or salt-hardy plant, so it earns the moderate rating here, but in a sheltered, shaded position in a St Francis Bay garden it does beautifully. The Blue Pansy butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves.
2 to 4 m tall and about 2 m wide.
Moderate to fast in the right spot.
Shade garden feature, screen in a sheltered position, container on a shaded patio, understorey planting beneath larger trees. One of the best flowering shrubs for deep shade.
Semi-shade to shade. In coastal gardens it tolerates more sun than inland, but too much direct sun turns the leaves yellow. A bright, sheltered, south-facing spot is ideal.
Well-drained soil with plenty of compost. It likes a rich, organic soil and does not enjoy dry, sandy conditions without generous compost and mulch.
Water regularly, especially in summer. It is not drought-tolerant and needs consistent moisture to look its best. Mulch thickly to conserve moisture.
Feed every six weeks through spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser. It responds well to regular feeding and rewards you with heavier flowering.
Prune after flowering to encourage bushiness. It can be left unpruned for a natural, graceful shape, or trimmed as an informal screen.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
