Cape Figwort

Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red' (Cape Figwort)

Name: Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red' (Cape Figwort)
Brand: GROW TROPICALS
SKU: PHYLCANDYRED11
Price: 8.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

£8.99

Hardy in the UKSun-lovingShade-tolerantLoved by pollinators

Pot size

11cm / 0.75L £8.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

The Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red', one of the boldest of the Cape Figworts (also known as Cape Fuchsia), is a compact, bushy perennial that sends up a long succession of hanging, tubular rich red flowers all summer and well into autumn. Part of the dwarf Candy Drops series, it packs the exotic charm of a full-size Phygelius into a neat, patio-friendly plant, and the bees and hummingbird hawk-moths adore it.

Bred from the South African Phygelius, this is a sun-loving, long-flowering plant that earns its place many times over. Rated around RHS H4, it is hardy in most of the UK, but coming through the year hinges on one thing: a cold, wet winter is what catches it out, while sharp drainage lets it shrug the cold off. It is a semi-evergreen subshrub that is usually cut back by hard frost, then reshoots vigorously from the base each spring, so do not give up on it.

Water regularly through the first summer to establish, then enjoy a plant that is fairly drought-tolerant and simply keeps on flowering. Deadhead through the season and it will carry its red spires from June right through to October. It is a natural in a mixed exotic border, thrives in a container as one of our favourite plants for pots and containers, and its nectar-rich flowers make it one of the best plants for pollinators you can grow. In milder coastal gardens it also earns a place among our coastal and exposed planting.

Pair it with the cream-flowered Phygelius 'Funfare Cream' or bolder foliage from the wider hardy exotics range for a lush, layered look, and see our hardy exotics: what to expect guide for how these plants behave through the seasons. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Cape Figwort

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.

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About Cape Figwort

Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red' (Cape Figwort) needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Coastal & Exposed Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H4 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −10°C

around RHS H4, semi-evergreen, usually cut back by hard frost and reshooting from the base in spring, helped by a dry winter mulch.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeSouth-facingWest-facingEast-facingSheltered

full sun for the most flowers, tolerating a little light shade, in a warm spot sheltered from cold drying winds.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedWell-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

any fertile, free-draining soil across the full pH range, with sharp drainage the priority, never waterlogged in winter.

Watering

Water regularly through the first summer to settle the roots in, after which it becomes fairly drought-tolerant. Feed in spring and deadhead the spent spires through the season to keep fresh red flowers coming into autumn. Apply a dry winter mulch over the crown for protection, then cut old and frost-damaged stems back to a low framework or near the base in early spring as new growth breaks. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first summer to settle the roots in, after which it becomes fairly drought-tolerant. Feed in spring and deadhead the spent spires through the season to keep fresh red flowers coming into autumn. Apply a dry winter mulch over the crown for protection, then cut old and frost-damaged stems back to a low framework or near the base in early spring as new growth breaks.

Mature size

Height45-60cm

Spread40-50cm

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

JFMAMJJASOND

Jun-Oct · Red

Seasonal colour

SpringSummerAutumnWinterFlowerFoliageBerries

Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Pruning

In most gardens it is cut back by frost. Cut old and frost-damaged stems back to a low framework or near the base in spring, and it reshoots vigorously. Deadhead through summer for more flowers.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets. Phygelius (Cape Figwort) is generally considered non-toxic, though as with any plant it is best not eaten.

Native range

South Africa (garden hybrid)

Family

Scrophulariaceae

Also known as

Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red' (Cape Figwort)

Genus

Phygelius

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phygelius 'Candy Drops Red' hardy in the UK?

Yes. Phygelius 'Candy Drops Red' is rated around RHS H4, so it is hardy in most of the UK. The bigger danger than cold on its own is a cold, wet winter, so plant it in a sheltered spot with sharp drainage. Even if a hard frost cuts it back, it reshoots freely from the base in spring. See more of our hardy exotics.

How big does Phygelius 'Candy Drops Red' grow?

The Candy Drops series is compact and bushy, reaching roughly 45 to 60cm tall and around 50cm wide in two to five years. That neat size makes it one of the best Phygelius for smaller borders and for our plants for pots and containers.

Does Phygelius 'Candy Drops Red' grow well in pots?

Yes, very well. Its compact habit was bred with containers in mind, so it is ideal on a sunny patio in a free-draining, loam-based compost with added grit. Keep it watered through summer and give it a dry, sheltered spot over winter. Browse more plants for pots and containers.

When does Phygelius 'Candy Drops Red' flower?

It flowers in a long succession from June right through to October, carrying hanging, tubular rich red blooms all summer and well into autumn. Deadhead spent spires to keep the display going. It is a star in a mixed exotic border.

How do I prune and overwinter Cape Figwort?

In most UK gardens frost cuts the top growth back over winter. Leave the old stems on for a little protection, then in spring cut old and frost-damaged stems back to a low framework or near the base, and it will reshoot vigorously. Deadhead through summer for more flowers.

Is Phygelius 'Candy Drops Red' good for bees and pollinators?

Yes. The nectar-rich tubular flowers are a magnet for bees and are also worked by hummingbird hawk-moths through summer and autumn, making it one of the best plants for pollinators you can grow.

Does my plant come with a pot?

Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.

How big will my plant be when it arrives?

Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.

What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?

There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.

What should I do when my plant arrives?

First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.

Will my plant survive being shipped?

Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.

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Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

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From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Red' (Cape Figwort)

£8.99