© Cesar Ormazabal, some rights reserved (CC-BY) · iNaturalist
Fabiana spp.
pichi
Andes of southern South America (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru)
Overview
Fabiana spp. is a genus of about 15 species of evergreen, heath-like shrubs in the nightshade family, Solanaceae, native to the dry slopes and high plains of the Andes in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. The wiry, upright to spreading stems are densely clothed in tiny overlapping scale- or needle-like leaves, giving the plants the look of a heather or cypress rather than a typical nightshade. Plants reach 1-8 feet (0.3-2.5 m) tall and 2-6 feet (0.6-1.8 m) wide, with resinous, aromatic foliage. Small tubular flowers, about 0.5-0.75 inch (12-18 mm) long, crowd the branch tips from late spring into summer and range from white through pale mauve to violet, depending on species and form. The shrubs grow in open, sunny, well-drained sites and tolerate poor, stony soils and seasonal drought. F. imbricata, known as pichi, has a long record of use in herbal medicine in its native range. Plants decline in wet, heavy soils and are damaged by hard frost, suited to mild, dry-summer climates. Foliage stays green year-round, and the overall form is dense and twiggy.
Native Range
Fabiana spp. is native to the Andes and adjacent dry country of southern South America, including Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru, growing on open, stony slopes and high plains.Suggested Uses
Grown in sunny shrub borders, gravel and rock gardens, and dry-climate plantings on well-drained soil. The heath-like form is used in mixed plantings with other dry-country shrubs. In containers it suits terraces and cold-frame culture in cooler regions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 8'
Width/Spread2' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, mauve, or violetFoliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun in light, free-draining soil, including poor and stony ground. The genus suits mild, dry-summer climates and is prone to root rot in wet, heavy soils. Soil pH from about 5.5 to 7.0 is tolerated, with a preference for neutral to slightly acidic ground. Water to establish, then sparingly, as plants are drought tolerant once settled. Light frost is tolerated, but hard freezes damage growth, limiting reliable outdoor culture to zones 8 to 10. In colder areas the shrubs are grown in containers and given winter shelter.Pruning
Light trimming after flowering keeps the shrub dense and shapely. Older woody stems are slow to reshoot from bare wood, so renewal is by regular light pruning rather than hard cutback. Spent flowering shoots are tipped back to maintain form.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons