The Escallonia has about 50 species of shrubs and small trees. This shrub grows in mostly coastal states, is tolerant of salt spray and is not well suited to inland summer heat and humidity. The summer flowers have a combination of white and red to rose-red coloring. The shrub is a rounded shape. Introduced as a non-native plant, Escallonia rubra is a large shrub that can be found in small areas of coastal Oregon and Northern California along roads, bluffs and beaches. The clusters of 4 to 40 flower heads are supported by a reddish/purple calyx which is hairy and glandular. Pruning should be part of the regular maintenance for this plant to develop a strong structure. It can be accomplished after flowering has occurred. It is tolerant of severe pruning. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues, scale insects and Escallonia leaf spot are minor problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The Thick, bright green leaves are lustrous and of variable shapes, 1-2 in. long and just over an inch wide. They are tapered at the base, and serrated. The leaves can sometimes be sticky.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Head; Panicle
Flower shape
Funnel; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flower has an open funnel shape with 5 lobes.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
A berry.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The reddish-green stems are multi-branched. The stems have a dense cover of short white hairs and stalked glands.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Central & South Chile to South Argentina
Distribution
Oregon, California
Wildlife value
Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.