Cape Figworts
What are they?
This is a small group of two species (and a hybrid) in the family Scrophulariaceae. The two species in the genus Phygelius are native to South Africa, where they grow as evergreen shrubs, but in the UK they are often frost tender and have a habit of dying back over winter then sprouting from the base in spring. Thus, these woody plants may not appear to be woody if found in the UK. The two species have been extensively hybridised in cultivation, to produce a range of varieties and colour forms, to the extent that there is much confusion as to the identity of plants found as garden escapes or throw-outs in the wild. With this in mind, I have included here plants which have not yet been recorded in the wild in our region, but which may be out there and awaiting correct identification.
Where are they found?
As introductions, these plants are most likely to be found in urban or suburban locations, where they may spread vegetatively from original plantings or discarded garden material.
Identification
The identification of these plants has been much confused in the past, with red-flowered plants often assumed to be Cape Figwort and yellow-flowered plants assumed to be River Bell. In their native South Africa, both species are red-flowered, but both occur uncommonly in a yellow-flowered form. These coloured forms have been crossed in cultivation to produce much variation and it is the shape of the flowers, not their colour, that should be considered when identifying plants; the flower shapes are described below. Note that these plants are often mislabelled when offered for sale. (Cape Figwort will be added as soon as I have photos - it has an open, more sparsely-branched flower spike with flowers all round (not one-sided), a flower tube that curves forwards and an oval mouth to the flower, while the petal lobes are reflexed.)
Hybrid Cape Figwort Phygelius x rectus
A garden ornamental of cultivated origin. Currently recorded just once in Cambridgeshire but these hybrids are common in cultivation. Flowers June to September. Flowers highly variable according to cultivar but typically showing a mix of characters from the two parent species (see species descriptions). Any plant with a more or less straight flower tube is likely to be this hybrid, but the tube may be slightly curved in either direction (forward or back) and the petal lobes are usually at least slightly reflexed.
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River Bell Phygelius aequalis
Introduced from South Africa but also selectively bred in cultivation. Currently not recorded in our region. Flowers June to September. Panicles of flowers compact with the flowers close together and all hanging to one side. Flower tube strongly recurved towards the base, mouth of flower symetrically round, petal lobes not reflexed. Plants in cultivation seem mostly to be yellow-formed selections and this species is often sold as the cultivars 'Yellow Trumpet', 'Cream Trumpet' or 'Cream Delight'.
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