Re: Podalyras (was Lobostemon fruiticosus

david feix wrote:
> Moira,
> I agree with you that it is surprising to read how the
> native habitat for many south african plants such as
> Podalyria and Psoralea seems so much more specialized
> in habitat than what they tolerate in cultivation.
> Neither requires especially moist conditions to do
> well here in San Francisco, just regular garden
> watering, and Psoralea pinnata does quite well in
> sandy or clay soils with fairly dry conditions.  The
> Podalyria calyptrata at Strybing Arboretum is also
> growing in ancient sand dune soils with only light
> irrigation, and does fine, but obviously doesn't get
> the trimming back after bloom, as it *is* a rather
> straggly looking shub that wouldn't attract anyone's
> attention out of bloom, which may explain its lack of
> popularity here in the SF Bay Area.  I aways thought
> the blooms alone made this worth growing, but couldn't
> find a source for live plants.

Hi David
I gather they don't grow from cuttings and seed is the usual option,
though it seems P. sericea at least is sometimes raised from layers.
> 
> Is Psoralea aphylla grown in New Zealand?  This is
> another one that I would like to find locally...

Not according to the books I have, though  P. calyptrata is well known
and popular where frosts are light enough (not in my hilly suburb
sadly). It does seem to be very much a feature of seaside gardens, so
possibly also  likes its soil light and sandy.

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