Evergreen Shrub – Compact Escallonia

Compact Escallonia 

Botanical name: escallonia hybrid ‘compakta’ 

Beginner friendly?: yes 

Average size at maturity: 2-3 ft in height with a spread of 4-6 ft 

Hardy zone: zones 7-9 

Foliage color: green 

Bloom time: late spring – fall 

Flower color: pink, red 

Growth rate: grows less than 1 ft per year 

Pruning instructions: trim lightly once summer blooms have spent to maintain desired shape and size and to promote more blooms next season 

Propagation methods:  propagate with cuttings in the late summer/early fall

Landscape use:  low hedge, border, edging, groundcover, container plant 

Light needs: 6 hours of sun per day 

Special features: low maintenance, drought tolerant, salt tolerant 

Watering instructions: allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : use a balanced, slow release fertilizer once a year in the early spring, before new growth begins to emerge

Best time to plant: spring or fall 

Best type of soil: sand or loam 

Companion plants: coreopsis, lavender, magnolia, mock orange pittosporum 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets 

Invasive species: no