Re: anigozanthus culture

Irene Kuffel wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
>   I was wondering if our southern hemisphere list-members can
>   shed some light on the culture of anigozanthus, as I seem
>   to get conflicting accounts from the books and plant labels
>   over here. Some say little summer water, some say regular
>   water.

Hi Irene
One of the main reason these plants tend to be difficult is because all
the known species of this genus come from West Australia -a region which
is the envy of many for its incredibly beautiful and unique flora - and
at the same time the despair of most who do not live there because of
the difficulties in growing these beauties elsewhere. They are, alas,
only too perfectly adapted to their native climate and their peculiar
native soils, many of which seem to be little more than rotten rock and
particulary broken-down shale..

Anigozanthus are no exception and one species (A manglesii), often
considered the most beautiful of all and named as the West Australia
state emblem, is also probably the most difficult to cultivate anywhere
else because of its susceptibility to ink disease and its low frost
tolerence. It is only likely to succeed in a well-drained soil which is 
dry from late spring until the start of winter. It is anyhow apparently
short-lived in cultivation, but can be helped by dividing it every two
years. My Australian book says division of any species is best done in
autumn and the divisions, even those to be grown in open ground, should
first be re-established in pots.

Ink disease is due to a fungus to which most natural species are
susceptible in various degrees, but its incidence depends also on the
degree of summer humidity and from this point of view the less rain
there is during summer the better. If one is watering it pays to
strictly avoid wetting the foliage for the same reason. Many of the
newer hybrids however have a good degree of resistance to this problem.

>   The Bush Gem hybrids seem more rugged and forgiving, but are
>   a little short for my needs. The taller varieties are harder
>   to find, and, sadly, easier to lose. I'm not sure if this is
>   because they freeze or rot. I garden in Napa, California. The
>   winters are wet (30-40", 100cm) and occasionally cold (perhaps
>   10 nights in the mid-20's F, or -5C). The summers are warm and
>   dry, and occasionally hot (about 20 days above 85F). The plants
>   are in average California garden soil i.e. mostly clay, slightly
>   amended.
> 
>   
If your plants are growing in clay, this could well be something to do
with them not thriving as well as you would like and almost certainly
the cause of the usually tough tall varieties succumbing to winter wet.
You would probably do better by growing them in pots, using a light type
of mix(they are pretty good container plants) or in a rockery, but at
least in the open garden it would be worth lightening the soil where
they are planted with plenty of sand and gravel to approximate more
closely their natural habitat. This improvement in drainage should
certainly increase their chances of surviving your rather wet winter.
The hybrids and most of the tall varieties should manage your frosts
perfectly well. Frost hardiness is helped by a hot dry autumn to ripen
the growth.

Also, is it possible to get more generous growth and bloom by
>   fertilizing? Or is this one of those plants who resent it?
>   I haven't been feeding them, and they don't seem to multiply/grow
>   as fast as many of my other happy plants. Perhaps this is because
>   I've been paranoid about overwatering?

Knowing the area they come from and the poor nutrient status of most
natural soils in Australia, I should definitely expect Anigozanthus to
resent ANY type of fertilizer, though in the light soils they prefer you
could probably slightly increase the amount of water they get during
summer. (I have never used any fertilizer for them myself and no book I
have recommends it)

I had a few nice ones here growing in a sloping terrace at the top of my
garden, mostly in full sun, plus one (a deep crimson)  in moderate
shade. Until recent years they were very happy, but this last summer, in
which it scarcely stopped raining has I am afraid finished most of them
off and the one I know is surviving (In a very steep part) never had a
single flower. Unless the weather rights itself (which appears somewhat
unlikely in the short term at least) I may have to do without them in
future..

Moira

-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata - at the Southern tip of North Island, NZ,
Lat 41°15'S, Long 174°58'E (Antipodes of Spain/Southern France)
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index