Re: Under-cover Acacias
- To: Mediterannean Plants List
- Subject: Re: Under-cover Acacias
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 11:05:10 +1200
- References: <45.4ba7919.28036b7b@aol.com>
Einionygarddwr@aol.com wrote:
>
> It may seem slightly odd asking which Acacias will grow well under
> glass,
> when I'm sure that many or most medit-planters do just that: grow
> their
> plants in mediterranean climates. Sadly, I live on the coast of Wales,
> where
> men are men and winters are (tragically) too cold & wet for many such
> plants
> to survive outdoors. I do grow a very few species in the ground - Aa.
> dealbata, boormanii and rubida. Others I've attempted have failed
> miserably.
>
> Currently however, I'm very pleased with the way that a young plant I
> was
> given last year of A.riceana has delighted in its conservatory abode,
> and I'm
> now minded to try a few more. Are there any particular recommendations
> of
> acacia species that are both amenable to life under glass and, equally
>
> important, don't get too big? Two other queries. Firstly, my A.riceana
> is
> currently a single stem over a foot in length: should I cut it back to
>
> promote a more bushy habit? Secondly, what's the best type of medium
> to grow
> acacias in, if they are in pots? Those acacias I've planted outdoors
> in the
> past just take their chances with whatever soil they're in, to live or
> die
> (usually the latter, with monotonous predictability).
>
Einion
I have just consulted my Australian Wildflower Catalogue which deals
with growing Australian plants and it lists 43 species of wattle worthy
of cultivation, but only one (A aciniacea - Gold dust Wattle)is
recommended for container growing.
Your A 'riceana' a NZ book gives as a form of A.verticillata (neither
of which is mentioned in the Ozzie book!). From NZ information it is
naturally a bush or small tree up to 6-8 ft tall. It is said to be a
dense bush when young falling apart and becoming pendulous with age, so
I presume it will thicken up on its own, but it is possible to prune
most wattles moderately (after flowering being the recommended time).
In the Australian list are a number of shrubby sorts which might be
amenable to container couture, but also a great many described as
"specimen" or "park" trees which I doubt would take knindly to being
confined indoors.
If you are interested in pursuing the idea I suggest you could list
species obtainable in Britain and I will endeavour to find out if they
are suitably bushy for you to try. this might take less time than my
going through all the 43 species.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata (near Wellington, capital city of New Zealand)
