Vireya Tropical Coral
Vireya Tropical Coral is a compact evergreen vireya grown for its bright salmon red flowers. The blooms appear in loose trusses and the plant can flower more than once a year given the right conditions, making it one of the more rewarding vireyas for NZ gardens. Mature size reaches around 1 to 1.5m high and wide.
This vireya suits a sheltered courtyard garden, a tropical-style planting, or a modern minimalist border where bold flower colour is the focus. Plant several together for a massed display, or use a single specimen in a container on a sheltered deck. The warm salmon red tone pairs well with deep green foliage plants or soft cream-flowered companions.
Grow Vireya Tropical Coral in dappled light or part shade with some morning sun. It needs free-draining, acidic soil rich in organic matter. A mix of bark and compost suits it well in the ground or in pots. Avoid waterlogged or compacted soil.
Vireya Tropical Coral is frost-tender and is not suited to frost-prone inland areas such as Central Otago or inland Southland without shelter. Feed with an azalea and rhododendron fertiliser in spring. Like all vireyas and rhododendrons, this plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if eaten.
Trimming: Trim lightly after each flush of flowering to keep the plant tidy and encourage new growth. Vireyas respond well to light shaping but avoid cutting into old bare wood. Remove any dead or crossing stems as you go.
Deadheading: Deadheading is not essential. You can remove spent trusses by hand to tidy the plant and encourage the next flush of buds, but leaving them does no harm.
Fertilising: Feed in spring with a fertiliser formulated for azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons. A light follow-up feed after each flowering flush supports continued growth. Avoid high-phosphorus general fertilisers.
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly through summer and dry spells. Vireyas dislike both drought and waterlogged conditions. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and keep roots cool.
Pest Control: Watch for aphids, thrips, two-spotted mite, and scale insects, especially on new growth and leaf undersides. Treat early with a suitable spray or horticultural oil to prevent populations building.
Disease Management: Free-draining soil and good airflow prevent most problems. Wet or compacted soil invites Phytophthora root rot, which is the main risk for vireyas. Clear fallen leaves and spent flowers regularly. In humid, still conditions, watch for petal blight on open flowers and remove affected blooms promptly.
Enjoy complimentary delivery anywhere in mainland New Zealand when you purchase plants worth $250 or more*.
For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
- Waiheke, Chatham and Great Barrier Islands: Please contact us for shipping options.
We aim to have all orders shipped within 14 days from the order date, unless a different shipping date is specified alongside a product.
