Circaea ×mentiens Plant Care

Circaea ×mentiens Boufford

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Circaea × mentiens is a hybrid of flowering plants in the evening primrose family Onagraceae. The parents of the hybrid are Circaea alpina and Circaea erubescens.

Water

Every 3–5 days

Light

Part shade to full shade

Temp

50–75°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Circaea ×mentiens?

Plant Circaea ×mentiens in part shade to full shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 3–5 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

What Is the Circaea ×mentiens?

Circaea ×mentiens (Circaea ×mentiens) belongs to the Onagraceae family within the Circaea genus.

Circaea ×mentiens displays a low spreading groundcover growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Circaea ×mentiens produces small white or pink flowers in racemes.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Circaea ×mentiens?

Water a young or newly planted Circaea ×mentiens every 3–5 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 3–5 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Circaea ×mentiens Need?

Circaea ×mentiens thrives in part shade to full shade. The optimal light range is 50–500 lux. Avoid placing Circaea ×mentiens in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Light Requirement

Part shade to full shade

50–500 lux

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Circaea ×mentiens Prefer?

Circaea ×mentiens tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Circaea ×mentiens prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

50–75°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Circaea ×mentiens?

Moist, rich, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Circaea ×mentiens to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Circaea ×mentiens?

Feed Circaea ×mentiens every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Circaea ×mentiens?

Choose a spot with part shade to full shade and moist, rich, well-draining soil with high organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Circaea ×mentiens is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Circaea ×mentiens?

Circaea ×mentiens can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Circaea ×mentiens?

Prune Circaea ×mentiens while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

How Do You Care for a Circaea ×mentiens in Winter?

Circaea ×mentiens is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Circaea ×mentiens?

Circaea ×mentiens can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alpine enchanter's nightshade plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Circaea ×mentiens Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Circaea ×mentiens, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Circaea ×mentiens?

Circaea ×mentiens is susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Circaea ×mentiens Need?

Circaea ×mentiens grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Circaea ×mentiens as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Circaea ×mentiens is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Circaea genus — compare its care with other Circaea species on PlantoScan.

Circaea is part of the Onagraceae plant family — browse all Onagraceae genera and species.

Circaea ×mentiens copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.

More Circaea Species

Other Circaea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Circaea ×mentiens Boufford, family Onagraceae (first published in Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 69: 977 (1982 publ. 1983)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Circaea ×mentiens, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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