Clianthus puniceus, Lobster Claw: Planting and Growing

Botany and description

The Clianthus puniceus or Parrot’s Beak, also known as Lobster Claw, is a shrub native to New Zealand. The genus Clianthus is monotypic, meaning it contains only one species: Clianthus puniceus. The Parrot’s Beak belongs to the Fabaceae family, formerly known as the “legume family”. A vast botanical family that includes, among others: wisteria, Laburnum, broom, clover, lupin, as well as beans, broad beans and peas, etc. The distinctive features of this family are the presence of nitrogen-fixing root nodules in the majority of cases (making them valuable in nitrogen-poor soil) and flowers described as papilionaceous. Clianthus puniceus is no exception.

Clianthus puniceus, botanical illustration

Although only one species is described, a distinction can be made. Two natural varieties exist: Clianthus puniceus var. puniceus (the species stricto sensu) and Clianthus puniceus var. maximus with larger, glossier leaves. Some botanists once considered them to be two distinct species.

The unusual shape of its flowers has earned it the nicknames Lobster Claw or Parrot’s Beak, but it is known as Kaka beak in its natural range: the cliffs along waterways and forest edges in New Zealand. Knowing its natural habitat helps us understand the shrub’s needs: cool but very well-drained soil.

The Clianthus puniceus is a sarmentous shrub, meaning its stems are long, flexible and somewhat climbing. Its long woody stems can either cascade gracefully down a slope, creep along the ground or be trained against a wall with support. Left to its own devices, the clianthus forms a small bushy shrub about 1.50-2 m tall, but if allowed to climb, it can reach up to 5 m. Growth is relatively slow to moderate in our regions.

The foliage is semi-evergreen, meaning the leaves remain on the plant during mild winters (between 1 and 4°C minimum), otherwise they fall like deciduous species. The leaves are green with a silky underside and divided into numerous leaflets.

The summer flowering is distinctive. Its long woody stems bear from April onwards clusters of pendulous flowers curiously shaped with large petals in red, pink or white depending on the variety, resembling parrot beaks or lobster claws. Flowering typically occurs from April to July, sometimes with a second flush in September depending on the climate. These “lobster claws” are actually clusters of large flowers (10 to 15 cm) growing in the leaf axils and hanging from peduncles. These flowers feature two keel petals shaped like sickles, the “lobster claws” or “parrot beaks”. The flowers give way to green pods that split open when ripe to reveal large black seeds.

Left: Clianthus puniceus ‘Kala King’ (© Leonora Enking), and right: the ‘Albus’ variety

Please note: Previously, there were two very distinct species in the Clianthus genus: Clianthus dampieri (Dampier’s Clianthus), an Australian annual, and our Clianthus puniceus. Now, the new botanical classification has moved Dampier’s Clianthus to the Swainsona genus: Swainsona pterostylis.

Clianthus puniceus is listed as “endangered” in its natural habitat by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The most beautiful varieties

Clianthus puniceus Flamingo

Clianthus puniceus 'Flamingo', also known as 'Parrot's Beak', is a bush with long woody climbing stems that bear clusters of pendulous flowers in spring. These unusually shaped blooms feature large petals in a stunning coral pink, resembling parrot beaks or lobster claws. Its foliage is finely divided into leaflets with silky undersides.

• Flowering time May to August
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Clianthus puniceus White Heron

Clianthus puniceus 'White Heron', on the other hand, produces a flowering of large, curved pure white flowers with a distinctly exotic appearance.

• Flowering time May to August
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Clianthus puniceus Kaka King

Clianthus puniceus 'Kaka King' takes its name from its large red flowers, whose shape resembles the beak of the kākā, a New Zealand parrot.

• Flowering time May to August
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Planting Clianthus puniceus

Where to Plant It?

The Lobster Claw is semi-hardy: this shrub can withstand occasional frosts down to -5°C. Beyond that, the Clianthus will suffer and die. When planted in the ground, the hardiness zone that suits it is 9b, which includes the Mediterranean and the entire Atlantic coast. Outside these areas, Clianthus puniceus can be grown in a pot and moved indoors during winter to protect it from frost. Also, consider placing it in a spot sheltered from cold winds.

The best exposure for it is full sun. However, high temperatures (above 30°C) can cause it distress. If this occurs frequently in your area, try planting it or placing the pot in partial shade instead.

As for the soil, it is not particularly fussy. Any ordinary soil will do, as long as it is not too rich or too dry. The soil should remain moist (slightly damp) during flowering. However, it is essential to ensure the substrate is well-draining. Regarding soil pH, the ground should preferably be alkaline or basic.

Clianthus puniceus, flowering in May (© Wendy Cutler)

When to Plant It?

Planting should be done in spring: between March and April, after the last frosts.

How to Plant It?

Allow 2 metres in all directions for each plant. This way, your Clianthus will have enough space to thrive.

In the Ground

• Soak the root ball of your shrub in a basin of water to rehydrate it;
• Dig a planting hole, two to three times the size of the root ball;
• Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole;
• Remove the Clianthus from its pot and place it in the centre;
• Backfill around the plant with the excavated soil, optionally adding some gravel to improve drainage;
• Gently firm the soil around the collar of the plant;
• Water thoroughly to moisten the substrate and prevent air pockets between the soil and the roots;
• Guide the stems towards a support to help them cling if you wish to grow your Lobster Claw against a wall. In colder regions, you can attempt planting in the ground for training against a south-facing wall. However, in areas with hot, dry summers, this situation should be avoided.

In a Pot

• Prepare a mix of horticultural compost, garden soil, and gravel in equal parts;
• Don’t forget to place a layer of gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom of your pot (with drainage holes) to ensure excess water drains away during watering;
• Water regularly throughout the growing season, reducing watering in winter while ensuring the soil does not dry out completely;
• Bring your plant indoors at the first sign of frost to protect it from freezing temperatures.

Maintenance of the Beak of Parrot

In the ground

Water if the soil is truly dry at depth, as the Clianthus is sensitive to drought.

Watch out for slugs and snails, which are particularly fond of young shoots of Clianthus.

At the end of flowering (July), carry out a pruning for tidying: remove faded flowers and cut back branches by one third. This encourages regrowth and helps the shrub to become more ramified.

Clianthus puniceus planted in the ground

In pots

Provide water regularly: approximately every two days, especially in dry weather.

Carry out a pruning for tidying after flowering, as indicated above.

Repotting is only necessary when roots emerge from the drainage hole, indicating the container is becoming too small. This should be done every 2 to 3 years. The roots dislike disturbance, so repot your Clianthus into a larger pot without disturbing the root system.

Bring the pot indoors at the first sign of frost, placing it in a cool, well-ventilated and bright location. An unheated conservatory would be ideal.

Possible diseases and pests

It’s important to watch out for slugs and snails in spring when the young shoots and leaves of the bush start to grow. These “slime producers” are particularly fond of them.

Other than that, there are no pests or diseases to worry about for the Clianthus if ideal growing conditions are maintained.

The propagation of Clianthus

Propagation is simple by sowing fresh seed in spring, after soaking the seeds in water overnight. The seeds should be placed in well-moistened soil with light and at a temperature of around 22°C.

Older seeds may germinate after 30 years, but germination results are often disappointing.

How to pair a Lobster Claw plant?

To accompany a Clianthus puniceus, for example, the ‘Flamingo’ variety, it is best to choose bushes requiring the same growing conditions: full sun, moderately fertile soil that remains relatively cool but very well-drained, and a rather mild climate (oceanic climate). If, in addition, the bushes in question flower at the same time and in shades that complement the coral pink of the clianthus’s “lobster claws,” it will be perfect!

We stay on the same continent as the Clianthus with a Boronia heterophylla, a charming Australian bush reaching about 1 m in height, with fine evergreen and aromatic foliage. This bush flowers from May to August with small pendulous magenta-pink bells, lightly scented. Still in Australia, we find the Australian mint or Prostanthera rotundifolia ‘Variegata’. The latter flowers in spring with a multitude of small tubular light purple-pink flowers. The foliage, very aromatic when crushed, is evergreen and olive-green variegated with cream.

Finally, we take a quick trip to South Africa with the Grewia occidentalis. This is a vigorous, ramified bush that can reach 1.50 m to 2 m in all directions when planted in the ground. Its glossy green foliage, dentate at the edges, remains more or less evergreen depending on winter severity. It flowers abundantly with small star-shaped mauve-pink blooms throughout summer.

Bottom right, Clianthus puniceus, paired with a Boronia heterophylla, a Prostanthera rotundifolia ‘Variegata’, and a Grewia occidentalis