Mutisia spinosa

Mutisia spinosa (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late summer to autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 3m

Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a (Will not tolerate snow, morning frost is OK)

Family: Asteraceae

Mutisia spinosa is an evergreen climbing sub shrub. Its light green leaves are elliptic to ovate with spiny margins, up to 6cm long and 35mm broad. This plant forms twining tendrils which enable it to cling and climb. Its white/ pink flowers have up to 15 petals and are up to 6cm across. Its fruit is an achene.

Mutisia spinosa Flower (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Mutisia spinosa is native to Chile and Argentina. In its native habitat it grows in dryer scrubby ares.

The etymological root of the binomial name Mutisia is named after Jose Celestino Mutis ( 1732 – 1808), a Spanish botanist. Spinosa is derived from the Latin spinosum meaning ‘thorny’.

Where conditions are suitable the landscape architect may find Mutisia spinosa useful as a free flowering evergreen climbing plant. It will most likely do well against a sheltered warm wall in the UK.

Ecologically, Mutisia spinosa flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Mutisia spinosa Leaf (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Mutisia spinosa prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes wet soils.

Mutisia spinosa requires little maintenance. It responds well to hard pruning, it may be cut to within 30cm of ground level.