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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox) |
| Origin: Chile (South America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange Red |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 4-8 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Cantua buxifolia 'Orange' (Flower of the Inca) An upright upright fast growing shrub that grows about 6 feet high with erect stems and arching branches holding small (1/2 to 1 inch long) semi-succulent gray-green leaves. In spring appear a profusion of orange to magenta pink flowers that have a long tube with a flaring mouth held on thin pedicels so the flowers dangle beneath - this form is a saturated orange color. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil with regular to occasional irrigation. It is hardy to around 20 F but apparently dislikes hot inland conditions. In its natural habitat it is pollinated by hummingbirds so is a good plant to bring these birds into one's garden. It can be outrageous in bloom but is a somewhat untidy garden plant with a sprawling form and leafless stems so can benefit from staking several branches together and the pruning back of the longer stems but prune only just after flowering as the flowers are produced on the previous season's wood. Cantua buxifolia's natural habitat is in the high valleys of the Yungas, the forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains where it can grow to be a small tree to 18 feet tall. It is the national flower of Peru and one of two national flowers of Bolivia (the other being Heliconia rostrata). The name for the genus is a Latinized version of the common name Qantu that was used by indigenous Incan people and the specific epithet refers to the resemblance of the leaves to those of a boxwood (Buxus). Besides the common name Flower of the Inca, this plant also is called Magic-flower, Magic-flower-of-the-Incas, Magictree, Sacred-flower-of-the-Incas and by the Incan names Qantu, Qantus or Qantuta. The plant is cited as being a key feature in Inca legends. Our thanks to Carol Bornstein for our first cuttings of this attractive plant.
This information about Cantua buxifolia 'Orange' displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments 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 it.
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