PlantFiles: White Slipper Flower
Calceolaria alba

I have yet to grow this plant in my garden. I intend to do so, when I install my rock garden.I have talked to nurserymen and women in the local area that grow and sell this plant. They have had good success growing C. alba in western Oregon in the Willamette valley in the ground.

Pluses for this plant seem to be that:
it has a long flowering season.
It has a white flower that shows up at night.
It has fragrance in the foliage.
It is evergreen.
It is not invasive in our climate. zone 8.
It can grow and bloom in reflective heat.

Negatives for this plant are that:
It must be planted in a raised bed, on a bank or in gravel. It must not be planted in straight soil or in a low area or it will rot over winter.
It needs to be trimmed back in late winter as it gets disheveled looking with black foliage dieback. (though no more than Lavendula usually gets.)
It hates damp shade.
It hates damp poor draining soil.
It dislikes irrigation systems.

Small shrublet from Chile. It has dense branches with narrow, linear, bright breen leaves. Bears masses of milk white, pouch shaped flowers with an almost globular appearance. The whole plant has a rosemary scent.

Flowers June - September

Native of hot, dry, rocky slopes and is of such a neat habit it may be suitable for larger alpine gardens with sharply drained soil on the acid side of neutral.

Not fully hardy so may need to be moved into a frost free greenhouse over winter.