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Re: Introducing Myself


Thank you for your interesting note on Mr Phillpotts and his shrubs - I
will be looking out for the book. As for the shrubs that you ask about, I
grow both Bowkeria gerrardiana (a South African with white 'calceolaria'
like flowers in summer) and Luculia gratissima.

The Bowkeria was given to me as a birthday present in June (I live in
Australia, about 70km from Melbourne - so that is winter for me!) so I this
will be its first summer with me and have therefore yet to see it flower. I
have planted it at the back of a semishaded boarder (morning sun - but
shaded in the afternoon). I live close to the sea (perhaps about 100m?) so
my soil is quite sandy, but I enrich it considerably with compost, manure
and mulch when I plant and then annually. It seems happy enough at the
moment - but as you point out info on it seems a bit scarce. The only brief
reference I have found so far is in Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs,
but I have no info on natural habitat.

I have grown the Luculia for years - it prefers half shade also. It likes
moisture, although it will tolerate some dryness (it does not necessarily
enjoy it). It has a tendency to become leggy so after flowering it should
be pruned and it responds well with new growth. I find it semi deciduous.
Best of all the fragrance of the flowers is just wonderful!

I would be interested in finding out anything you know about some of the
other plants on your list eg Inga, Manettia, Pavia, Grabowskia, Peumus,
Entelea and Hermannia (you said some species come from Australia - but I
cannot find any reference so far that talks about it?).

I also received another plant as a present recently - Brachyglottis repanda
purpurea (the common name is apparently 'Bushman's Toilet Paper') from NZ -
does anyone have info on it?

Susan George
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