Re: Obscure Astelias, and not so obscure Hebes.

Tim, I've enjoyed enormously the discussion on Hebes, one of my favourites,
and Astelia, a stunning genus. I'm in the SW corner of W. Australia, and the
hebes flourish for me, both the whipcord and large leaf varieties. Hebe
cupressioides is a very drought hardy plant, but possibly prone to sunstroke
in a very hot summer, like some of the NZ olearias. H. topiara likewise, and
needs light and regular clipping to stay healthy. All the large leaf hebes,
many of which are looked down on here too!, respond well to clipping and
make excellent hedges. They are reasonably drought resistant once
established, getting by with water once a fortnight or so. It's seems quite
true that the larger the leaf, the more water they need.
I find they will grow in part to full shade with no ill effects, and then
need even less water.

The nursery industry has caused endless confusion with it's cutely named
selections........with the hebes ability to self-seed so generously I'm sure
that a plethora of nursery seedlings finish up in shopping trolleys!

Australia has one variety of Astelia, Astelia alpina. It is native to NSW,
Vic. and Tasmania, but in the way of many desirable Aust. natives, not at
all well known or widely available. Pity because it sounds like a small to
moderate size Astelia with excellent qualities. Thank you for sparking my
search for this desiderata, I am determined to track it down! The only
Astelia I have by the way [and it took ages to find] is Astelia chathamica.
Margaret.

----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Longville <tim@eddy.u-net.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 3:25 AM
Subject: Obscure Astelias


> 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?) I
> grow that and I also grow A. banksii and an un-ID-ed species, a gift
> grown from seed by a friend. All three are so handsome and so
> successful that I'd like to try more - but since they are anything but
> cheap if bought from UK nurseries I'd like to have a notion of my
> chances of success. Just about available from one or two nurseries
> here are A. solandri (the RHS says A. cunninghamii is synonymous:
> yes?), A. fragrans, and (only from the splendid Gary Dunlop at
> Ballyrogan in N. Ireland, a treasure-house of rarities) A. graminea
> and 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? Are there any other species lurking which
> might be worth trying, whether in the open garden or (even) under
> glass for winter? (My ancient copy of Harkness lists A. laevis, I
> notice, from Australia. Is that still a 'real' name or has it been
> changed or absorbed into something else?)
>
> And (final query): why have I never germinated a single seed of any
> astelia species? Is there some trick? Or is it one of those situations
> where the seed needs to be sown fresh (and of course mine has always
> been in seed-firm or gardening society storage)?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help, advice or (most of all!) encouragement
> in my madness -
> Tim
>
>
> Tim Longville
>
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