Re: Adenanthos sericea

Marilyn Jacobsen wrote:


Dear List,

I was wondering what experience anyone has with this Woollybush. I saw one
at a nursery and liked its soft silvery foliage. Of course, it was immature
at 3 ft. and I have not seen it used in a landscape.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Hi Marilyn

Hi Maralyn
I have never come across this myself, but apparently the genus (Adenanthos) is native in West and South Australia. Not many species are actually cultivated but A sericea is the commonestand is described a having silky grey foliage. It has red grevillea-like flowers, but these are apparently more or less hidden by the foliage (No doubt one could pick them though, as the account in Flora says "Most respond to pruning, thinning and shaping, and the both flowers and foliage last well in water".) It can eventually grow to 10 feet high and nearly as widee, so needs plenty of room.

Adenthos species are members of the Protea family and apparently respond well to a Protea-type cultivation (light frosts only, light well- drained soil with little or no added phosphate, good ventilation and plenty of sunshine). A sericea (Or sericius according to Flora) is said to do particularly well in sandy soil and is moderately salt-tolerent in coasal gardens. (Actually I wonder how they define "moderately' as Flora also has a picture of a wild bush growing on a low seacliff in W Australia with nothing at all shielding it frrom the spray as far as I can see!)
I hope this helps you to place your bush satisfactorily.

Moira

--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS ADDED 20/Feb/2005

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