It's all about ...
plants

Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder
 
perennial

Tall Slipper Plant

Pedilanthus bracteatus

Add To My Plant List

Tall Slipper Plant (Pedilanthus bracteatus) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Tall Slipper Plant flowers

Tall Slipper Plant flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Tall Slipper Plant (Pedilanthus bracteatus) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Tall Slipper Plant flowers

Tall Slipper Plant flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Tall Slipper Plant (Pedilanthus bracteatus) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Tall Slipper Plant in bloom

Tall Slipper Plant in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  6 feet

Spread:  3 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  9a

Other Names:  syn. Euphorbia bracteata, Pedilanthus pavonis

Description:

This upright succulent plant branches from the base with narrow, cylindrical stems, presenting ovate leaves with thick mid-veins; unusual flowers with rounded red bracts from late spring to fall; an interesting addition to the garden or containers

Ornamental Features

Tall Slipper Plant features showy chartreuse flowers with buttery yellow overtones and red bracts at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid fall. Its oval leaves remain green in colour throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Tall Slipper Plant is an open herbaceous evergreen perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Tall Slipper Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Vertical Accent
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Tall Slipper Plant will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.

Tall Slipper Plant is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Articulation  Rock  Garden  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features