Re: Podalyras (was Lobostemon fruiticosus

david feix wrote:
> 
> Hi Annie,
> 
> You may already have access to Pita Joffe's book, The
> Gardener's Guide to South African Plants, where she
> has a photo and cultural info for Lobostemon
> fruticosus on page 139.... 
> As to the Podalyria sericea, I might assume that it is
> similar in cultural preferences to P. calyptrata or P.
> cordata, which both are native to streamside or peaty
> sois in the mountains of the South African Cape.  

Both P calyptrata and P sericea are commonly grown in NZ and I am
surprised to hear what their native conditions are like, as in
cultivation here any sunny well-drained soil with only light frosts will
suit and they certainly do not seem to need streamside conditions to
flourish. In fact for Podalyra sericea it is recommended to go easy on
summer watering(!) Like many South Africa plants it does better without
fertilizers, though I should think a little compost at planting  would
not come amiss. 

P calyptrata ( growing from 6 to 10 feet high) does not need to be
straggly if properly treated. it should be pruned lightly after
flowering and occasionally pinched during the season to thicken it up.
Known here as the Sweet Pea bush, it flowers profusely through Spring.

P sericea, is a much smaller plant usually no more than 2-3 feet in
height. it is known as the Satin Bush because of its shiny-silky silvery
leaves and equally silvery pods. The pink peaflowers are quite small,
but the pods are spectacular. They form at the end of winter or during
spring, but may last well into the summer

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