Chilean potato vine 'Glasnevin'

Sun

Full sun gives the best flowering; tolerates light partial shade. Shelter from cold, drying winds.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Keep container-grown plants evenly moist without leaving the roots waterlogged.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates chalk, loam and sandy soils if they do not dry out excessively.

Height

15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m)

Spread

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m), depending on training

Flowers

Clusters of violet-blue, star-shaped flowers with yellow centres from summer into autumn; flowering can start earlier in mild climates.

Foliage

Oval to narrowly oval, dark green leaves with slightly wavy margins; evergreen to semi-evergreen, with greater leaf loss in cold winters.

Growth

Fast once established

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   2 ft (0.6 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (1.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Fast

• Provide sturdy wires or a trellis and tie new shoots loosely to the support.
• Water deeply during the first growing season and during extended dry weather.
• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring if growth is weak; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Mulch the root area in spring, keeping mulch clear of the main stems.
• In colder areas, plant against a sheltered, sun-facing wall and protect young plants during hard frosts.

Pruning. In spring, once the risk of severe frost has passed, remove dead or frost-damaged growth and shorten unwanted side shoots to a healthy bud. Retain and tie in a framework of strong stems, thinning congested growth rather than shearing the whole plant.

Spring

Plant after severe frost risk has passed, install supports and water thoroughly.

Spring

Prune damaged or crowded growth, then mulch and feed lightly if needed.

Early summer

Tie in vigorous new shoots and water during dry spells.

Summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Check ties and supports before windy weather; move container plants into shelter where winters are cold.

Winter

Protect young plants during severe freezes and avoid leaving container roots saturated.

• Train against a sunny brick or stone wall for a long season of blue flowers.
• Cover a sturdy trellis or pergola upright, tying stems in as they grow.
• Combine with climbing roses for contrasting flower shapes and an informal cottage-garden effect.
• Grow behind lavender, salvias and pale-flowered perennials in a sheltered border.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Mediterranean, Romantic rose garden, Modern courtyard and Coastal.

Plant it with: Climbing roses, Lavender, Catmint, Hardy geraniums, Salvias and Agapanthus.

Wildlife: The flowers provide pollen for bees, including bumblebees. A mature framework can offer shelter for small birds.

• Frost damage: leaves and shoot tips may blacken after hard freezes. Wait until spring growth begins before cutting back to healthy wood.
• Aphids: check soft shoot tips and dislodge small colonies with water; preserve ladybirds and other predators.
• Red spider mites: hot, dry conditions, especially under glass, can cause speckled leaves and fine webbing. Rinse foliage and use an appropriate biological control under cover.
• Poor flowering: excessive shade or nitrogen feeding encourages leafy growth. Give more sun, reduce high-nitrogen fertiliser and avoid repeated summer trimming.

Treat all parts, especially the berries and foliage, as poisonous to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; substantial amounts may cause serious neurological or heart effects. Do not eat the berries or confuse this ornamental plant with an edible potato crop.

• White potato vine (Solanum laxum)

  Usually has white or very pale blue flowers and a more slender climbing habit; 'Glasnevin' has stronger violet-blue flowers and a woody, shrubby framework.

• Blue potato bush (Lycianthes rantonnetii)

  Forms a rounded shrub rather than a tall scrambling climber, with broader, more rounded purple flowers often showing a distinct yellow eye.

• Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

  Has smaller purple flowers with strongly swept-back petals, often lobed or arrow-shaped leaves, and conspicuous berries that ripen red.

Chilean refers to the plant's native country, crispum means curled or wavy in reference to the leaf margins, and 'Glasnevin' refers to the botanic gardens in Dublin.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in a free-draining propagation mix with gentle humidity. Layering a low shoot is another option. Seed will not reliably preserve the characteristics of 'Glasnevin'.

Accepted botanical name

Solanum crispum

Native range

Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Chile Central and Chile South.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.