Japanese name: マッケイヤ ベラ Scientific name:Mackaya bella
[Overview]
An evergreen shrub reaching about 1.5 m in both height and spread.
The leaves are simple and opposite, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, about 7–15 cm long and 4–6 cm wide, with pointed tips and glossy upper surfaces.
The leaf margins have wavy teeth or low, large serrations.
A raceme about 15 cm long is produced at the tip of each branch.
The flowers are tubular, 4–6 cm across, with 5 lobes at the tip, very pale purple to white with fine purple veins.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
Keep it at 10°C or higher over winter.
It prefers bright partial shade and fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soil.
Direct sunlight in summer can cause leaf scorch.
For potted plants, from spring to autumn water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and keep on the dry side in winter.
For plants in the ground, watering is not necessary unless sunny weather continues and the soil dries out.
Apply slow-release fertilizer from spring to autumn.
Pests and diseases include scale insects and spider mites.
