Re: variegated Tristania conferta (aka Lophostemon confertus)

At 09:16 PM 5/2/01 -0700, malcolm hoffs wrote:
>I saw either Tristania conferta 'Albomarginata' or Tristania conferta 
>'Aureovariegata in a garden this weekend, and I knew I had to have that 
>tree. It was small and graceful with large gorgeous variegated leaves.  I 
>learned that Monrovia used to sell it, but they stopped. Now the tree has 
>disappeared from the marketplace.  Only Tristania conferta is 
>available.   Does anyone know where I can buy one of these trees. Either 
>would be fine.  I'll try grafting if I can't find it.

Malcolm -

I do not find a variegated form of this species to be readily 
available.  You might inquire with San Marcos Growers, who lists the 
regular species under its other name, Lophostemon confertus.  You might 
also try looking for information by that name as well.  You might also try 
contacting Gary Hammer, owner of Desert to Jungle nursery in Montebello 
(3211 W. Beverly Blvd.; (323) 722-3976) - he always has really wonderful 
and unusual stuff.

Here is some information about this plant I would on the web:
"Grafting as a method of propagation of Australian native plants has been 
carried out by a number of workers with mixed success (Wrigley and Fagg, 
1979; Elliot and Jones, 1980). However, the only plants which are grafted 
commercially are Lophostemon confertus cv. Variegata and Agonis flexuosa 
cv. Variegata because they cannot be readily propagated from cuttings, 
weeping standards of Grevillea x gaudi chaudi using Grevillea robusta as a 
rootstock, and the nut producing species Macadamia integrifolia and M. 
tetraphylla."
Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP)
http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/index.html

What garden was it that you saw this plant?  If you find it somewhere, 
please let me know!

Good luck!
Seán O.


h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara        fax (707) 667-1173     sean.ohara@groupmail.com
710 Jean Street, Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
(ask me about the worldwide Mediterranean gardening discussion group)
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