The Chilean potato vine, Solanum crispum, is just the thing to give a sunny wall an exotic look. It has wiry stems, which need tying up to wires or trellis for support, clad in small semi-evergreen leaves which remain on the plant in all but bad winters. The potato-like flowers, each with lilac petals around a pointed yellow centre, appear continuously from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ flowers more prolifically, and is hardier than other species. Grow in moist but well-drained soil. To propagate, take cuttings from summer to early autumn. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
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Plant size
6m height
1.8m spread
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Aspect
South facing, west facing
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Position in border
Back
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Half hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline
Solanum 'Glasnevin' can be toxic.
Toxic to:
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses