How to Grow Chilean Potato Vine
Solanum crispum
Chilean Potato Vine is a vigorous semi-evergreen scrambler for a warm, sheltered wall. It produces clusters of purple-blue, potato-like flowers with yellow stamens from early summer right through to autumn — one of the longest flowering seasons of any wall shrub. Plant in well-drained soil against a south or south-west facing wall. Provide wires for support and mulch the base. Not fully hardy — protect in hard frosts and cut back frost-damaged growth in spring.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring with a balanced fertiliser. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Watch For
- Aphids
- Red spider mite in dry summers
- Frost damage to new growth
- Potato blight in wet seasons
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, sheltered south-facing wall
Needs maximum warmth and sunshine. A south or south-west facing wall provides the microclimate essential for prolific flowering.
Watering
Moderate, well-drained soil
Water regularly until established. Once mature, tolerates some drought but flowers better with consistent moisture during summer.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed in spring
Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning
After flowering and spring tidy
Trim flowered shoots back by a third in late summer. Remove frost-damaged or dead growth in spring once new buds are visible.
Support
Wires or trellis essential
Stems scramble but do not self-cling. Provide horizontal wires or a trellis and tie in new growth regularly during the growing season.
Growing Tips
Sunny sheltered wall essential
This plant needs warmth and shelter. A south or south-west wall provides the microclimate it needs to thrive and flower prolifically.
Tie in new growth regularly
Stems scramble rather than self-cling. Tie in new shoots to wires or trellis every few weeks during the growing season to guide the framework.
Berries are toxic
The small round berries that follow the flowers are poisonous if eaten. Keep children and pets away from fruiting stems.
