LUCULIA

Luculia gratissima has rose pink flowers with a strong perfume, which is often described as being between a gardenia and a vanilla fragrance. The generic name, Luculia, is the Latinised form of the Nepalese name, Luculi Swa. The specific name, gratissima, is Latin for 'most pleasing'. Luculias are evergreen shrubs with rounded, often irregular growth habits. In the wild they are said to reach 6m but in cultivation they are usually around the 3-4m mark. In winter scented, pink flowers appear on the ends of the stems, in large clusters up to 20cm across.

Luculias grow well in a semi-shaded position (or a spot with protection from hot afternoon summer sun). A free-draining coarse soil with added organic material is best. They like a cool root zone, so keep the plant mulched. Do not let the soil dry out. Luculias resent root disturbance and don't like to be transplanted. During prolonged periods of heavy rain, spraying the foliage with a phosphorus acid product may help prevent root rot. Shoots that have been damaged by frost can be cut back to a pair of healthy leaves or buds in late winter to early spring, when the chance of frost is past. A light prune to remove spent flowers at this time will also help to shape the plant and keep it bushy. Luculias benefit from the occasional application of a small amount of lime, except in areas which have alkaline soils.

This post is part of the Pink Saturday meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.