Re: Obscure Astelias
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Obscure Astelias
- From: d* f*
- Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 13:15:43 -0800 (PST)
--- Tim Longville <tim@eddy.u-net.com> wrote:
> I wondered if any of our NZ or Australian members,
> particularly, could
> cast some light on the possibilities lurking in this
> genus? The only
> one commonly grown in the UK is A. chathamica. (The
> RHS now wants
> 'Silver Spear' to be simply synonymous with the
> species. Opinions?)
Just about available from one or
> two nurseries
> here are
A. nivicola. How many of those are desirable?
> How many are
> feasible in a climate with cool summers and mild but
> not frost-free
> winters and lots of wet?
> Thanks in advance for any help, advice or (most of
> all!) encouragement
> in my madness -
> Tim
>
>
> Tim Longville
Tim, the only species with which I am familiar here in
California are A. chathamica 'Silver Spear' and A.
nivicola. They are both available in the
wholesale/retail trade here, and I think that they are
hardy to at least 25F. A. chathamica is the more
common of the two, and does quite well here, but I
have never been certain of its ultimate size, and fear
that it is similar to some of the phormiums, in that
it can get very large. Some of the plants of this
that I have seen get to be 5 foot tall and across.
The silvery foliage is a very good match for the
Silver Tree/Leucadendron argenteum.
A. nivicola appears to be a much smaller growing
plant, and with a more rosy/bronze cast to the
foliage. I have only seen this one in nurseries, so I
don't know it from a garden setting. I would think it
worth trying if you can give it some protection from
freezes. The others sound interesting, but I've not
seen any of them here, which is not to say that they
aren't around, as A. cockaynei is listed at Strybing,
and UC Santa Cruz may also have some species from your
list.
David Feix
>
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays!
http://calendar.yahoo.com/
