Re: Clethras

Einionygarddwr@aol.com wrote:
> 
> 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
C. arborea is the commonest species in NZ and is quite reasonably hardy
once it has come through its first winter. At that early stage my local
book says frosts harder than you mention will cut back the tips. After
that it does become more hardy and has been known to survive
considerably harder frosts certainly as low as -6. The book says a dry
autumn, which discourages late growth, can help (perhaps not possible in
Wales, though!?)

And yes, it does like to be sheltered by other trees. I would guess that
adequate shelter should help its hardiness. I don't think though one can
regard it as an understory _shrub_ except in the early stages as it
should eventually reach about 6 metres in height.

If you can get it to like you it is a most beautiful plant and I should
say well worth the effort.  As to the price, you can at least recoup
some of this if you wish from multiplying it, which is farly easy from
either seed or autumn cuttings under glass.

Moira

Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
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