Re: Dull or Delightful?

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Longville <tim.longville@BTinternet.com>
To: medit-plants <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: 08 December 2002 03:42
Subject: Dull or Delightful?


Interesting range of opinions re Kangaroo Paw flowers - from the
'dull'/'hardly worth growing' from Glenn and myself to David's 'delightful'
8ft ever-lastings!

I'd have marked this difference down to dreaded 'climate' once again, if it
weren't for where Glenn is. So is it, rather, that there are certain KPs
which are 'dull' (some of the small-flowered spp?) but others which are
'delightful' (some larger-flowered - and more tender? - spp? some
cultivars??)?

If so, 'names and packdrills' of the superior versions, please - the
packdrills to include if possible the degree(s) of hardiness to winter cold
(and more particularly wet) and the degrees of summer heat needed to promote
maximum growth/flowering.

Tim-on-the-Solway
where cistus and ceanothus still bloom
and hellebores and primulas are already out:
seasons? what they?
(next week will no doubt provide the answer[s])


Hi Tim
Please note that I grow what I can sell - that means its the local markets
judgement of whats saleable that determines 'niceness' & not me. The classic
quote regarding this is a woman who commented on one of my bromeliads, ' Oh,
it looks so real it could be plastic '
At any rate, I find them all quite fascinating. The yellow forms of the
A.flavidus can be rather insipid, but there are red forms available which
are showier. The A.flavidus is probably the best for your situation. It
comes from the deep Southwest where you're moving out of the med. climate
zone & it is also associated with marshes. This gives it the evergreen habit
& resistance to inkspot which is why it is used in a lot of hybridisation
programs. Frost hardiness I don't know about.
The A.manglesii is to my mind the most attractive of the lot & also the
hardest to grow. Inkspot & summer root rot see it off very quickly.This is
where you're best off ensuring complete summer dormancy & a well drained
sandy soil. The A humilis varieties are also very attractive & would need
the same treatment &, as far as I can make out, all the other species -
including the Macropida species -  are from seasonal areas with sandy soils
& would be the same.
Not very encouraging for your situation I know. This is probably one left to
the true Med climate regions. In the last few weeks we've pushed about 5
days over 30C & had some howling Sou'easters thats completely sucked the
garden dry. Thats probably what they'll be better adapted to.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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