Coral shrub ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Solanum pseudocapsicum
• Family: Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
• Synonyms: coral tree, coral cherry
• Origin: Central and South America
• Growth type: shrub
• Growth height: 60 cm to 100 cm
• Leaf: elliptic, evergreen
• Flower: white, inconspicuous
• Fruit: berry
• Toxicity: toxic
• Hardiness: not hardy
• Usage: houseplant, potted garden, summer balcony

hardiness

The South American origin leaves no doubt: A coral shrub (Solanum pseudocapsicum) is not hardy. Its subtropical and tropical home regions extend from Mexico through Brazil to Argentina. There, the coral tree inhabits sunny locations from the lowlands to altitudes of 2,600 meters, where temperatures rarely fall below the 10 degree mark. Temperatures around freezing bring the exotic wood down reliably. The absolute minimum temperature is 6° Celsius.

growth

The coral cherry compensates for its pronounced sensitivity to frost with a year-round decorative performance, crowned by a colorful display of fruit in the middle of the dark season. Why the distinctive ornamental tree has been around since the 16th Century in Germany a valued houseplant, these key data explain the growth:

• growth type: evergreen, small shrub with dainty flowers and bright red berries.
• growth habit: bushy, erect or partly prostrate.
• growth height: 60cm to 100cm.
• bark: initially greenish-brown and densely hairy, later golden-brown and glabrous.
• Horticulturally interesting properties: moderately difficult to care for, tolerates pruning, high ornamental value, poisonous fruits.

The colorful world of Solanum pseudocapsicum as a houseplant

Sheet

With this decorative foliage, the coral tree sets itself in scene as a potted plant:

• leaf shape: stalked, narrowly elliptical to lanceolate, tapered at both leaf ends, leaf margins smooth, wavy or ruffled.
• Two size categories: large leaves 2.5 cm to 9 cm long, small leaves 0.9 to 3.5 cm long.
• leaf color: dark green, glabrous on top, sparsely to densely hairy underneath.

If the coral shrub has been allowed to hibernate properly, its leaves are evergreen. The sap contains a slightly toxic alkaloid that can cause itching, redness, and a rash on contact with the skin.

blossom

Solanum pseudocapsicum is a houseplant that doesn't reveal its exotic colors all at once. According to the motto "modesty is an ornament", coral shrub flowers with these characteristics appear in summer:

• inflorescence: stalked, consisting of 1 to 8 individual flowers.
• single flower: fivefold, stellate, white with yellow stamens.
• flower size: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm in diameter.
• heyday: May/June to October/November.
• flower ecology: hermaphrodite

If the coral tree is cultivated as a houseplant all year round, you should gently shake the flowering plant repeatedly. This pollination method has proven itself in many nightshades with a roof over their heads, such as tomatoes, paprika or chili. Only pollinated flowers produce the desired fruit.

fruit

Following the subtle blossom overture, the coral tree puts its floral trump cards on the table with these fruits:

• fruit type: spherical berry on a short, woody stalk.
• fruit color: Green, yellow or bright orange-red depending on the degree of ripeness.
• seed: flat kidney-shaped, pale yellow, 2-3 mm in size, germinates under normal and light conditions
• special feature: very poisonus

The coral shrub owes its status as a poisonous plant to the berries. The most important toxin is the alkaloid solanocapsin. Eating just two coral cherries can cause severe poisoning in humans and pets. Typical symptoms are severe nausea, painful vomiting, heart palpitations and circulatory collapse. The coral tree is not suitable for family households with pets. Recommended as a non-toxic alternative from the nightshade family Cocktail tomato varieties, whose bright red mini fruits invite you to carefree snacking.

digression

Coral shrub Coral tree differences

Plant coral shrubs

You can buy a ready-to-plant coral shrub in tree nurseries and garden centers from a price of 3.99 euros. Hobby gardeners favor planting after propagation sowing. These planting tips are peppered with useful information:

sowing

Seeds that germinate easily are available in specialist shops from 2 euros. The optimal time window for sowing is open from mid-February to early May. A flat bowl with a transparent lid is suitable as a seed container. coconut soil is the ideal seed substrate. Other important sowing tips in brief:

• Location: room warm, bright window seat not in full sun.
• germination time: 3 to 6 weeks at 22° to 25° Celsius (minimum 20° Celsius).
• sowing: Sow light germs 1 cm apart, sieve thinly, press down with wooden boards.
• seed care: keep slightly moist, remove cover after germination, seedling liquid from a growth height of 7-10 cm fertilize, pinch all shoots twice before repotting for bushy growth.

With a growth height of 15 cm, the seedlings are repotted in individual pots and cared for like adult coral bushes.

Plant

Plant a coral shrub in high-quality potting soil without peat with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. Mix in coconut soil as a peat substitute. expanded clay makes itself useful as an additive for a loose, permeable and structurally stable potting soil. Before you repot the coral tree into a beautiful flower pot, put the root ball and the growing or buying container in soft water. A curved potsherd above the bottom opening acts as a drainage system so that irrigation water runs off quickly and the roots do not become waterlogged.

Location

Under these conditions, a coral shrub inspires with bright colors:

• Bright to shady location without direct sunlight.
• Humidity and warm location with optimal temperatures of 18° to 25° Celsius.
• Ideally from May to September on the balcony.

If the coral tree is cultivated for several years, the winter location should be bright and frost-free at 8° to 10° Celsius. Before clearing out onto the balcony, a two-week hardening phase in a semi-shady location prevents leaf damage from sunburn.

Caring for Coral Shrubs

In this country, the coral tree is mostly cultivated as an annual. With proper care and wintering appropriate to the species, the tropical plant can live up to ten years. These care tips summarize what really matters:

Pour

• Water generously from spring to autumn to ensure even moisture in the root ball.
• Water more sparingly in winter (moisture meter in the substrate shows the need for watering).
• Run low-lime irrigation water directly onto the slightly dried soil until the saucer fills up.
• Pour out the coaster after 10 to 20 minutes.
• Daily spraying during flowering will encourage berry formation.

Fertilize

• Add an organic liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water every 3 to 4 weeks from March to October.
• Extra tip: more liquid tomato fertilizer promotes fruiting on the coral tree.
• Do not fertilize repotted coral shrub for 8 to 12 weeks.

wintering

• Coral cherry bright and frost-free overwinter at 8° to 10° Celsius.
• Don't let the root ball dry out.
• Mist evergreen leaves weekly with filtered rainwater.

repot

• Do not throw away the coral bush with shriveled berries, but repot in February.
• Shake off or rinse off old substrate.
• Cut off dead roots, cut back living roots if necessary.

To cut

• After repotting, cut back all shoots by up to 2/3.
• Pinch off young shoot tips in spring for bushy branching.
• Important: put on gloves before caring for the cut to protect against the poisonous plant sap.

propagation

A vegetative propagation by cuttings is possible. In contrast to uncomplicated sowing, there is usually a high failure rate.

Diseases, pests, care errors

Occasionally, pests make things difficult for the coral shrub. In most cases, care errors are the cause when a Solanum pseudocapsicum weakens. The following table informs you about common damage patterns, typical causes and gives tips for effective countermeasures:

Popular Varieties

Two beautiful coral shrub varieties add color to the creative living space greenery:

• variegated: Variegated coral shrub, variegated cream-yellow-green foliage or yellow-spotted leaves with white margins, bright red fruit decoration in wintertime.
• New Paterson: distinctive houseplant with narrow, elliptical leaves, white star-shaped flowers and orange-red fruits, height of growth 40 cm to 60 cm.

FAQ

Is a coral tree poisonous?

All nightshades are poisonous. The coral tree (Solanum pseudocapsicum) is no exception in this regard. The bright orange-red berries primarily contain a high concentration of poison. Even the consumption of two small coral cherries causes severe symptoms of poisoning. Children and pets who cannot resist the appetizing fruits are primarily at risk.

With which water is the coral cherry poured?

Please use mainly filtered, collected rainwater as irrigation water. Alternatively, stale tap water at room temperature is suitable. With a simple trick you can reduce the lime content in hard tap water. Fill a cotton bag with 1 liter of peat. Hang the peat bag in a full 10 liter watering can for two to three days.

Is the coral shrub hardy?

No, the coral shrub (Solanum pseudocapsicum) is a nightshade plant from Central and South America. In its native regions, the shrub has not learned to hold its own against the freezing cold. The minimum temperature is 6° Celsius, well above the freezing point. For this reason, a coral shrub in Central Europe is not hardy. With bright, frost-free wintering, the coral cherry can be up to ten years old as a houseplant.