Lotus 'Berthelotii Orange'
coral gem or parrot's beak
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Average to fast
- Flowering period: May to July
- Hardiness: Frost tender
With silver chains of foliage and brilliant flowers, ‘Berthelotii Orange’ is a visual delight and often grown for use as a tender perennial in tropical themed hanging baskets and containers. This trailing evergreen perennial has needle-like grey-green leaves arranged in whorls along arching stems. Reaching just 30cm tall, it forms a low mat highlighted by dangling pairs of pointed, parrot-beak shaped blooms in fiery orange-red from late spring to early summer.
Prefers a light, sunny, and free-draining soil with even moisture - too little or too much water can cause the foliage to droop. Pinch stem ends to promote branching. The plant will not tolerate cold temperatures close to freezing so will require protection under glass over the winter.