Lycianthes Rantonnetii "Solanum Purple" Patio Standard 19cmPot H800mm

Botanical Name: Lycianthes rantonnetii (syn. Solanum rantonnetii)
Common Names: Blue Potato Bush, Purple Solanum, Paraguay Nightshade

📌 Product Description

Lycianthes rantonnetii, commonly known as Purple Solanum or Blue Potato Bush, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub admired for its masses of purple to violet star-shaped flowers with bright yellow centres. The flowers are produced over a long period, creating continuous colour in the garden.

This plant forms a soft, bushy shrub that can also be lightly trained or pruned into shape, making it suitable for hedges, borders, or feature planting. Its vibrant flowers attract pollinators and add strong visual appeal to any landscape.

Well suited to South African conditions, it thrives in warm climates and provides reliable flowering throughout the growing season.

📏 Size When Fully Grown

Height: 2 – 3 m
Spread: 1.5 – 2.5 m
Growth Habit: Bushy evergreen shrub
Growth Rate: Fast

🌱 Best Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun (best flowering)
Soil: Well-draining fertile soil
Water:

• Water regularly during establishment
• Moderate watering once established
• Avoid waterlogged soil

Feeding: Apply a balanced fertiliser during spring and summer to encourage continuous flowering.

Maintenance:

• Prune regularly to maintain shape
• Can be lightly trimmed after flowering
• Protect from strong frost

🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

Best Planting Time: Spring to early summer
Active Growth: Spring and summer
Flowering Season: Spring through autumn (often extended in warm climates)
Climate Suitability: Suitable for most warm regions of South Africa
Frost Tolerance: Sensitive to heavy frost

🌼 Additional Benefits

• Long flowering season
• Attractive purple flowers
• Fast-growing
• Pollinator-friendly
• Easy to maintain

🌿 Ideal Uses

✔ Flowering hedges
✔ Border planting
✔ Feature shrub
✔ Cottage gardens
✔ Pollinator gardens