Re: A hedge by the sea
Moira wrote:
>This very odd, because all its natural locations cited in the NZ Flora
>are seaside places, the type locality being "South head of Hokianga
>Harbour". As it naturally grows only in the northern coastal reaches of
>the North Island it is however quite frost tender.
Cold biting winds from the north east seem to do the damage and when
combined with salt spray, the effect is quite marked. Much of Europe
suffers from bitter blasts from the north and east on occasions during
winter and this needs to be borne in mind.
>Have you ever come across H 'Andersonii' (or even better H 'Andersonii"
>variegata)? This is a very successful cross between speciosa and
[snip]
>been raised in Edinburgh about 1849, but is still outstanding in my
>opinion.
Thanks for reminding me of it. It is possibly the hardiest of the
'tender' variegated sorts and is still widely planted - and rightly
so. That said, it's frost tolerance is not that great and anything
over minus 6C is likely to cause damage - especially in soils where
drainage is less than perfect. We used to plant it regularly in the
'Midlands' and expect to lose it at least once every 4 or 5 years. It
always grieved me that Hebe x franciscana 'Variegata' would often
survive where H. x Andersonii Variegata would not. I find the former
'lumpy' and far too institutionalised for my tastes.
>I wonder if this is really Autumn Glory. It sounds to me much more like
>Amy. Amy certainly has the purple flushed leaves, but Autumn Glory is
>described as having "purple stems and and grey-green leaves".
Yes it does have purple stems, The glaucous leaves do get a purplish
flush however - especially on plants in exposed sites. I would not
describe this as being striking purple foliage however, merely
'flushed' especially around the edges.
>According to the local description, Autumn Glory is only a "small shrub
>45 to 60cms tall, useful for the front of the border, and it doesn't to
>me sound sound high enough to use as a hedge.
The books here also describe it as being a short shrub not much more
than 60cms, tall. Having seen it on several occasions in southern
gardens at well over twice that height, I'm tempted to consider it as
suitable for a hedge in warmer climates. I had a group of 'Autumn
Glory' on my nursery that was about 10 years old and had grown to just
over 3ft in that time. It looked superb with Convolvulus cneorum
growing at its feet, In another location - exposed and very cold on
thinner, poorer soil, it barely grew to half that height, but sprawled
about somewhat, so I suspect soil quality and local climate are
deciding factors in it's ultimate height.
David Poole
TORQUAY UK Zone9b
