Cantua buxifolia Juss. ex Lam Sacred Flower of the Incas. Native of Peru, Bolivia and N Chile, reaching 4000m in the Andes, flowering in spring. Stems to 2.5m; leaves 2.5–5cm long, lanceolate, with blunt teeth. Flowers 6–8cm long.The slender arching branches are clothed with box-like leaves, and weighed down in spring by clusters of crimson and orange, tubular flowers, to 8cm (3in) long. These attract hummingbirds to the garden. Although this shrub is largely evergreen, it is normal for some leaves to fall in winter. A most beautiful plant needing careful treatment to flower well. Plant in good soil and water well in summer; keep drier in winter when the plant will lose some leaves and increase watering again as the buds appear in spring. Prune lightly and repot after flowering. Can be grown outside in warm climates and is best stood outside in summer as it is prone to attack by red spider. Min. -3°C. C. bicolor from Bolivia, has smaller flowers with the tube white to yellow and with orange-red lobes. Both are easy from cuttings.
Cultivation Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Keep rather dry if possible in winter. Water as the plant comes into growth and in hot weather.
Height to 2.4m (8ft); spread to 1m (3ft). USZ 10–11, surviving -1°C (30°F) of overnight frost. Requires summer watering.