Re: Israeli ruscus green & New Zealand Tea Tree

> This question was posed to me by a friend at work.
> 
> > do you know what Israeli ruscus green is and can we grow it here as an annual or
> > whatever (Pennsylvania, zone 6)  And where can we get New Zealand Tea's around
> > here, or anywhere, for that matter?  Do you know their price range?

   Just a guess, that it's actually ruscus 'Israeli green' - and, since
subject to correction I don't think of them as notable ornamental gardeners, 
that this might be something selected for use in the international cutflower
and foliage trade where they have a considerable presence.
   Ruscus aculeatus the species isn't too shabby a green, though - in my
very limited experience a finer plant than the more southeasterly R. hypo-
glossum and reportedly a zone hardier. "Fine" should be understood in a
relative sense; neither is much more than a curiosity in that regard, but
since ruscus is practically the archetype of dry-shade plants they're more
widely grown than they probably deserve.
   Not of course in northeast Kansas (USDA z5a) where I've attempted both
as interiorscape plants, but in the extremely sheltered positions they'll
tolerate they might be worth a try in USDA z6.
   Both at least >have< been available from Logee's, probably Glasshouse
Works. Also a few named cvv of New Zealand Tea Tree (Leptospermum). Forest
Farm has (counting the small-quantity list in back) four species of this,
but I'd think twice about growing unselected forms of anything I couldn't
just stick out in the landscape.
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