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Buy Vestia foetida

Also Known As

Vestia lycioides
Vestia lycoides
Chilean Box Thorn

Plant type

shrub, perennial

size

H: 4'-8'
W: 4'-8'

planting zones

8b-11

3 inch pot | $13

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Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

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Vestia foetida plant details

Vestia foetida is a fast-growing broadleaf evergreen perennial shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer yellow flowers emerge followed by blue fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts birds and hummingbirds. Grows well with sun and even moisture - occasional water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Vestia foetida

Plant type: perennial shrub
Plant family: solanaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 4 FT - 8 FT - wide, 4 FT - 8 FT - tall
Flowers: yellow blooms in spring and summer
Uses: long-blooming, rare, trellis, tropical-looking

GROWING CONDITIONS for Vestia foetida

USDA Zones: 8b - 11
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: even moisture - occasional

Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Rare evergreen shrub, 4-6’ high x 4-5’ wide, dripping with clusters of narrow, tubular light yellow flowers, petals flared with protruding stamens, spring summer. Sun loving, drought tolerant (but probably happier with regular moisture) and deer resistant…decent soil, also good in a big pot. Happy at the coast or inland with a little protection. This is in the nightshade family so probably toxic. ‘Foetida’ pertains to the somewhat ‘foetid’ smell of the crushed foliage.

By: Secret Garden Growers

For most of us, this is a good container plant to lug in for the winter but if you have that garden which only gets light frosts or that microclimate we would kill for, then this is a goody. Native to Chile, this is in the Solanaceae and will become a 4'-6' evergreen shrub with drooping and narrowly tubular yellow flowers with long exserted stamens. The foliage is a bit unpleasant when crushed - and only then - which makes us think it will be deer proof. Good for a sunny position and was given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Tomatoes, anyone? Well, not quite. But at least it actually likes our climate. This odd member of the Solanaceae family from Chile has yellow flowers that are followed by little round tomato-ish fruits (these eventually dry out into conspicuous upright capsules, which are kind of cool in an interesting sort of way). I wouldn't eat them since they might be toxic. But the flowers are cool, and quite showy! Even more interestingly, this plant smells bad when you rub against it. So it needs just the right spot. We warned you. Evergreen, to 8' tall, and very vigorous and easy to grow in moist soil. Hardy to 10 - 15 °F.

By: The Desert Northwest

Do you know the gorgeous shrub Cantua buxifolia "Sacred Flower of the Andes"? Well, this rare shrub from Chile is somewhat similar, but has yellow flowers. Fast growing, it reaches to 6' in height with many erect stems. Its shiny green leaves are thin and narrow, crowding down the stem. Dainty, lemon yellow, tubular flowers with prominent stamens are produced Spring thru Summer, followed by small, inedible, blue berries. Fairly rich soil is best.