{"product_id":"clianthus-puniceus-maximus","title":"Clianthus puniceus Maximus","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eClianthus puniceus\u003c\/strong\u003e Maximus, better known as \u003cstrong\u003eKaka Beak\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eLobster Claw\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eParrot's Beak\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most exotic flowering wall shrubs you can grow in a British garden. Through spring it drips with pendent clusters of large, curved, claw-shaped flowers in vivid red, set against soft, ferny evergreen foliage. This selected form, Maximus, is prized for its larger, richer blooms, giving a real taste of New Zealand on a warm, sheltered wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a half-hardy exotic rated RHS H3, Clianthus puniceus needs a little care over winter but rewards it generously. The evergreen leaves hold through milder winters, and the main show of colour arrives from April to June when the nectar-rich flowers open and draw in bees and other pollinators. In hard winters it is easily protected, which is why so many gardeners grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, ideally trained on a south or west-facing wall away from cold, drying winds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile and free-draining is essential, on any pH from acid to alkaline; add grit to open up heavy ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a vigorous scrambling wall shrub reaching around 2 to 3 m tall with a 1.5 to 2 m spread when supported.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e half-hardy (RHS H3), so fleece the crown in hard frost or overwinter container plants under glass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to build a strong root system, then keep it just moist and never waterlogged. Tie in the lax stems as they grow and give a light tidy after flowering to keep it shapely. It is superb trained on a sunny wall among other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, earns its place in a sheltered \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic border\u003c\/a\u003e, and is one of our favourite \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003eplants for pollinators\u003c\/a\u003e. Grown in a large container from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e range, it can simply be moved into a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory for winter. For a clear picture of how tender exotics behave through the year, see our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ehardy exotics what to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery Clianthus we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy framework and strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57969837867391,"sku":"CLIAPUNIMAX19","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-182218426.jpg?v=1784328372","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/clianthus-puniceus-maximus","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}