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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Rubiaceae (Madders) |
| Origin: Himalaya Mountain Region (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Pink |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Winter |
| Height: 8-12 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Luculia gratissima (Luculia) - This medium to large shrub has attractive long leaves but is primarily grown for its 8-inch wide, fragrant pink flower heads that bloom fall to winter (on into early spring in Santa Barbara). It is a semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub from the lower elevations of the Himalayas and into Yunnan Province where it has be known to grow to 20 feet tall. In cultivation, the largest plants are usually around 8-10 feet tall. It needs a near frost-free winter and cool summer climate and can have trouble with root rot, particularly Phytophthora, if there is poor drainage. If it is damaged by frost, the plant can be cut back to a pair of healthy leaves or buds in late winter to early spring after the chance of frost is past. Pruning to remove old spent flowers will also help to keep this plant bushy, otherwise it gets a little lanky. It is also a host for Greenhouse thrip which can stipple the foliage. The genus name, Luculia, is the a Latinized word from the Nepalese name, Luculi Swa and the species name 'gratissima' is Latin for "most pleasing". This is not a plant for the amateur gardener or the wrong location, but when it is happy, it is sensational. It seems to do best in the San Francisco Bay area but there have been old plants in Santa Barbara Gardens as well and we have a beautiful large shrub in our garden. Will Riedel notes in his "Plants for Extra-Tropical Regions" (1950) that many plants were distributed in Southern California in the 1930's but few have survived .
This information about Luculia gratissima displayed on this web page is based on research we have conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations we have made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how our crops have performed in containers in the nursery field. Where appropriate, we will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.
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