Re: Obscure Astelias, and not so obscure Hebes.
That's it Tim........the secret society for the Cultivation Of Obscure and
Common Antipodeans. My Palmer's Manual, which is a laconic and delightful NZ
guide to trees and shrubs has this to say........""La Seduisante".....French
for attractive."
No hyperbole there. Typical NZ understatement.
Can't find any clues as to germination of seed. Surely they can't all be
grown by division?
Now, moving across the Tasman Sea, are there any Australian plants you're
passionate about?We have some stunning foliage shrubs eg our wattles. Every
shape and shade imaginable.
Cheers, and thanks for your encouragement!
Margaret.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Longville <tim@eddy.u-net.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2000 6:13 AM
Subject: Re: Obscure Astelias, and not so obscure Hebes.
> Margaret - Good to hear from you. Hands across the ocean in a movement
> to resist the style-gurus, sez I: perhaps a hebe could act as our
> 'logo' - one of the really over-the-top dramatic big-flowered and
> big-leafed ones (hebes should have gone down a bomb in the big-haired
> 70s!): how about 'La Seduisante'?!
> >
> >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!
>
> If you find a source of seed, do let me know!
>
> BTW, you can almost certainly get seed of at least some of the NZ
> species by joining the NZ AGS. Then all you'd have to do is master the
> trick of germinating the brutes...!
>
> Best wishes -
> Tim
>
>
> Tim Longville
>
