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| Category: Vine |
| Family: Pittosporaceae (Pittosporums) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Dark Blue |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Sollya heterophylla forma parviflora] |
| Height: Climbing (Vine) |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Sollya parviflora (Vining Bluebell) - This delicate evergreen twining vine from Australia grows to 6-8 feet tall with narrow dark green leaves and dark blue flowers. The intensely dark blue flowers, appearing in summer, hang down and away from the foliage. Plant in part sun to light shade and water infrequently to occasionally. It is hardy to at least degrees F. Our plant in the garden, with overhead protection from a tree, sustained temperatures down to 18 ° F during freeze of 1990 with little damage. Although lost during a garden reconstruction project, this beautiful specimen covered a 6 foot tall by 8 foot wide trellis in our main garden; everyone who saw it asked about this plant. This is a great plant for its small size, texture and intense dark blue flowers. We received Sollya parviflora from the UCSC arboretum around 1985. There is a certain amount of confusion over the true identity of this plant. There are two valid species of Sollya, Sollya heterophylla and S. drummondii (syn. S. parviflora). Rodger Elliot, horticulturist and noted author of many books on Australian plants, upon seeing the plant in our garden said that the plant we are growing as Sollya parviflora is actually a fine textured form of Sollya heterophylla. In Gwen Elliot's "Australian Plants Identified" the author supports this by noting that "A slender form of Sollya heterophylla with narrow leaves and bright deep blue flowers has previously been sold, incorrectly, as Sollya parviflora". She further notes that Sollya drummondii (S. parviflora) "is not known to be in cultivation". What ever the plant is - it certainly is a winner.
The information about Sollya parviflora displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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