Re: Clethras

Re: Clethra arborea,
 
Dear Einion,
 
This species has quite a history in these parts and appears to have attracted praise from several authors of repute here in Cornwall over the years, Hunkin, Arnold-Forster and Thurston all single it out, Arnold-Forster in particular. He rates it as being one of the most merit worthy plants for the very mild garden hereabouts, to quote "A good plant of this in flower is an unforgettable sight". Bean is a source worth checking for his comments too.
 
The price you were quoted probably reflects its scarcity value in the nursery trade, which is somewhat surprising given the quality of the plant compared to much else that is borderline and on the market of late. Seamus O'Brien, latterly of Glanleam in the West of Ireland and now of Glasnevin Bot's once told me that the Knight of Kerry introduced it to Tresco on a visit. No doubt the famous nurserymen of Truro, Messrs Treseder may have had a hand in spreading it around these parts further still.
 
As far as hardiness goes a quick flick through a battered copy of the RHS Winter Damage Survey of 1961-62 (particularly severe UK winter) cites a 12' (3m) tree surviving up at Brodick on the Isle of Arran (Scotland) that year. My short experience in these parts (Cornwall) have given me the time to witness the fact it is a plant that requires a gentle establishment period over a few winters. Thereafter it has a greater resistance to frost beyond that of the -3c you've been quoted. Indeed one or two large 20' (6-7m) shrubs appear to have regenerated from the base around my local environs of St.Mawes after the catastrophic winter of 1987, when it reached something like -8c over a few nights here.
 
We have a couple of large(ish) Clethra arborea at Lamorran which flower splendidly in August/Sept with lovely scented racemes reminiscent of 'lily of the valley'. Very much earning its keep in a traditionally fallow period in a Cornish garden. Would advise though, that it looks its best when carefully pruned so that the flowers have a chance to contrast with the foliage. Worth a try if you take care to protect it until the stem has some girth - at £17.50 a throw I think we'll take care to collect the seed in future!
 
kind regards, and Happy New Year,
 
Mark Brent,
Lamorran House Gardens, St.Mawes,Cornwall, GB.
 
( currently avoiding the frost by the skin of out teeth)
----- Original Message -----
From: E*@aol.com
To: m*@ucdavis.edu
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 4:24 PM
Subject: Clethras

I'm very gradually working myself up towards a mini-frenzy of lust, the object(s) of my desire being the genus Clethra. Before I pass the point of no return, I would be grateful for any advice on that old problem of beauty v. hardiness. I understand that some of the deciduous species are very hardy, and that even the Chinese C.delavayi, that I've seen described as being 'the best' of this group, is hardy to -10C or so. But the one I would really like is the evergreen Madeiran species C.arborea, but it's only hardy to -3C, says one of my reference books. Is this an accurate assessment? I believe that it's a plant best grown as an understorey shrub in woodland conditions, and I'm quite prepared to protect it under glass for a few winters until my other trees/shrubs have grown to provide the required shade/shelter. It appears that this is not a cheap plant to buy in the UK - one Cornish nursery is asking £17.50 for it, which is a tad pricey. All advice gratefully received.

Einion Hughes,
in Rhyl, North Wales,
where temperatures are currently stuck in a cycle of +3C in the day and -2C at night.     
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