Solandra maxima in Brentwood, Los Angeles
Solandra maxima are part of the Solanaceae family of plants. It is native to Central America and Mexico. They also call it the Chalice Vine, Capa de Oro, Golden Chalice Vine, Hawaiian Lily, or Cup of Gold Vine.
The first time, I came across it, walking down one of the residential streets, in Brentwood, in Los Angeles. The flowers are very large and impressive.
It is a large evergreen vine or shrub and can climb as high as 6.5m or 20ft. The leaves are thick and glossy. They are about 6in or 8cm long. The flowers grow on thick stems and are about 8in or 20cm wide. They are trumpet-shaped with some brown stripes. They usually flower in spring but they continue flowering into summer in temperate zones. The flowers are fragrant more so in the evenings. In cooler climates, Solandra maxima can become deciduous.
Olof Swartz (1760-1818), a Swedish botanist named Solandra maxima after Daniel Carl Solander, a student of Carl Linnaeus. The name Maxima refers to its large size.
How to grow Solandra maxima:
Grow Solandra maxima in the sun or partial shade. The strong sun could cause leaf burn. Plant it in moist, fertile but well-drained soil. It is best to acclimate this plant slowly to its environment. The flowers are poisonous. Prune it to keep its shape. Fertilize it in spring and in summer in hotter climates provide plenty of water. Use mulch to keep the roots cool and moist but never too wet. It is generally disease-free and pest-free. Propagate from seed or cuttings. The can take a couple of years to bloom from hardwood cuttings. Also, propagate from leafy stem cuttings.
