Family: Boweniaceae

These evergreen, perennial shrubs mostly originate from Mexico and Central America. They are valued for their very beautiful, fragrant flowers, which are often used in posies and for table decoration. The terminal cymes of tubular, four-lobed flowers come in red,, yellow or white and the leaves are opposite or whorled. Bouvardias were very popular in Victorian times and earlier this century but few are now regularly grown.

Species

B. jasminiflora produces fragrant white flowers and grows to 60 cm (24 in) in height.

B. leiantha has ovate leaves, downy on the undersides, in whorls of three to five, and smooth, deep red flowers.

B. longiflora has opposite, ovate or lance-shaped leaves and solitary, fragrant, snow-white flowers. This pretty bush grows to 1.5 m (5 ft).

B. ternifolia has lance-shaped to ovate leaves in whorls of three or four, and scarlet flowers, downy on the outside.

Cultivation

These shrubs are generally grown under glass, except in frost-free areas. They need a cool greenhouse or conservatory and maximum light. Grow in pots of soil-based potting compost. Outdoors, grow in a warm, sunny position in rich, well-drained soil. Water well and feed regularly during the growing period. In late summer, cut back the shoots of the previous year's growth to within 25 mm (1 in) of their base. Propagate from cuttings of the young shoots taken in early autumn.

Climate

Zone 9 and above.