Lycianthes rantonnetii
( lye - see - AHN - theez ran - tone - EH - tee - eye )
At-A-Glance Information
Commonly called Blue Potato Bush or Paraguay Nightshade (and also known under the botanical name Solanum rantonnetii), this evergreen shrub is native to Paraguay and Argentina, and reaches 8-12 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. It can also be staked and grown into a tree or with support grown into a vine. Leaves are bright green and flowers are violet blue and flower throughout the year. It is fast growing and will need consistent pruning, but provides great interest to cottage and informal gardens. Variety 'Royal Robe' is a more compact form, and sometimes white-flowering varieties are available. These versatile plants grow best in zones 12, 13, 15-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Caring for and pruning LYCIANTHES RANTONNETII shrubs
Blue Potato Bush needs full sun to light shade conditions to perform well. The more sun these shrubs get, the more they will flower. Plant in well-draining but moisture-retentive soil. Although these shrubs can tolerate most soil types, they prefer soil amended with organic material that has a pH of between 6.0 and 9.0. Keep soil consistently moist, especially during active growth periods. Apply mulch to the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention. In springtime and again in late summertime, fertilize with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
These plants can get a little bit 'leggy', especially if they are not grown in full sun exposure. If this occurs, it is possible to create a bushier habit through routine pinching and pruning of longer branches. Prune the entire shrub yearly after flowering fades to maintain its shape and to remove dead or overgrown branches.
These plants can get a little bit 'leggy', especially if they are not grown in full sun exposure. If this occurs, it is possible to create a bushier habit through routine pinching and pruning of longer branches. Prune the entire shrub yearly after flowering fades to maintain its shape and to remove dead or overgrown branches.
Propagation
Blue Potato Bush is most easily propagated by cuttings. For information on how to complete this process, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Lycianthes rantonnetii by Cutting
Propagating Lycianthes rantonnetii by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Problems and Pests
Blue Potato Bush can be affected by the following:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- Spider Mites
Gallery
Videos
How to grow and care for these beautiful shrubs.
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Propagating Blue Potato Bush.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 424, Lycianthes rantonnetii
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