Pichi-Pichi (Fabiana imbricata) - live plant

• A live, rooted plant
• Sold as an ornamental and botanical collector's shrub
• Packaging suited to live plants

Fabiana imbricata forms a dense, upright bush 1 to 2 metres tall. Its epithet imbricata describes its foliage: tiny scale-like leaves pressed tightly against one another along the branches, exactly as on a cypress.

In spring, the branches are covered along their entire length with small tubular white or lavender flowers, so numerous that they hide the foliage. The whole plant is resinous and gives off a very pronounced balsamic scent when crushed.

It grows at altitude on dry, poor ground, and that is what it needs: full sun, well-drained, rather acidic soil, and little water once established.

It tolerates dry cold but dislikes the combination of damp and frost. In heavy soil, plant it on a mound or in a rockery. A light trim after flowering keeps the bush compact.

Is it a heather or a conifer?
Neither. It is a member of the Solanaceae, despite an appearance strongly reminiscent of both. A fine example of convergent form between very distant families.

Is it hardy?
It tolerates frost in dry soil. It is winter wet that causes it problems, not the cold itself.

Why does it smell so strong?
Its branches are loaded with aromatic resins. The scent is released as soon as you rub them, and it is a good identification marker.

When does it flower?
In spring, in a blanketing bloom that lasts several weeks.

This plant is sold as an ornamental and botanical collector's shrub. Also worth exploring: our rare plants and our folklore plants.