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Growing Fabiana imbricata
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Fabiana - Growing Guide

Growing Fabiana imbricata

These are heath like shrubs originating from temperate parts of South Africa. They are allied to cestrum and are characterised by solitary tubular flowers and densely overlapping needle-like leaves.

F. imbricata f. violacea grows to around 3ft with a wider spread. Some forms are more spreading and prostrate than others and the colour of the flowers can vary from blue to purple although most are mauve. At the entrance to the nursery we also grow a form with pure white flowers which we propagate from time to time.

The flowers are borne in profusion right up the stem in May or June to give a spectacular show. These plants are perfectly hardy and will tolerate any poor but well drained soil. Full sun is essential to ensuring that they flower properly. They will tolerate lime soils but become yellow and chlorotic in shallow chalk soil.

No pruning is necessary and these are easy and rewarding plants to grow. Cuttings from smaller green new shoots root quickly in early summer. Semi-ripe cuttings taken later in the year can be more difficult. We have seldom seen our plants set seed and have not tried to propagate them in this way. However, easy plants to grow are generally easy from seed as well.