Lotus maculatus (Lotus vine)

Japanese name: ロツス マクラツス
Scientific name: Lotus maculatus

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 15–20 cm tall.
The stems branch well and extend to 60–90 cm.
The whole plant is densely covered with fine silvery hairs and looks tinged with blue-green.
The leaves are alternate and palmately compound with 3–7 leaflets; the leaflets are linear, about 1–2 cm long.
There is no leaf stalk, so the linear leaves look as if they are whorled.
The flowers are borne singly at the branch tips or leaf axils, or 2–5 in umbels.
The flowers are yellow and pea-shaped, curved like a beak, with a reflexed standard petal and petal tips that are bright red to orange.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated site.
It can overwinter outdoors in areas without frost.
It is somewhat sensitive to heat and humidity, so potted plants are best kept out of the rain during long rainy spells, and in regions with hot summers it is best placed in airy partial shade.
Take care not to overwater; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Place slow-release fertilizer on the soil in spring and autumn, so that no fertilizer remains in midsummer.
It dislikes being transplanted somewhat, so do not break up the root ball when repotting.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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