Calceolaria integrifolia

Calceolaria integrifolia

Calceolaria integrifolia

Excelling in its position as dominant member of the tufa mound, the recently planted area in front of the alpine house, Calceolaria integrifolia has flowered for several weeks and looks set to continue. Masses of clear yellow flowers are held in terminal cymes. The lower lip of each individual flower is inflated and resembles a slipper. Hence the name, from the Latin, calceolus: slipper. Originating from Chile where seed was collected from wind pruned shrubs in the coastal area near Conception. A sub shrub here at RBGE and dependant on a free draining root run, which is achieved through the tufa mound, below which a 50:50 mix of quartz sand and soil was used to build up the root zone area.