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Gomphostigma Care Guide

Caring for Gomphostigma virgatum

River star, Otter bush

This is an unusual South African plant which has narrow, grey, felty leaves rather similar to those of a rosemary. It thrives only in damp and wet locations in the wild. Here it grows best in boggy soil at the edge of a pond or in a bog garden. It will grow perfectly well in a pot, but it must never be allowed to dry out. Despite liking its ‘feet’ near water this plant grows best in full sun.

G. virgatum is an evergreen, fast growing shrub which has a vase-shaped habit and grows to around 4-5 feet in height. Terminal spikes of fragrant, creamy-white flowers appear from late spring through to late summer.

This is not a plant which will tolerate any frost, but it is simple enough to root from young, soft wood cuttings taken in early summer. If lightly frosted the plant will probably reshoot from lower down if the damage is cut off. It is however a plant which can quickly get quite straggly, so hard pruning should be undertaken as a matter of course. 

 

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