Re: Phormium tenax
Moira wrote:
>Dave
>I can't let you get away with siting Duncan and Davies in Christchurch.
Sorry Moira,
I would rather say it was just a slip of the tongue, but have to admit
it was a slip of memory. The last time I bought lining-out stock from
them was in 1980 and for some reason have associated them with
Christchurch - don't ask me why. Marvelous stuff though - I do
remember being very pleased with the stock that arrived. Glad to hear
they are still going.
> I do actually have two
>Cordylines, however. C australis came courtesy of nature
Yes C. australis appears here courtesy of the birds as well - I pulled
out quite a lot of seedlings yesterday and consigned them to the
rubbish tip. I only have a red leaved form of this - known here as
'Red Edge' and 'Dutch Red'. It is a good purple with a ruby red edge
and veins that almost glow in the light of a setting sun. I was very
sniffy about them before I got this, but an 18" seedling just over a
year ago is now a strapping 5 footer with good, long broad leaves and
a decent trunk. Feeding heavily with a high potash fertiliser has
maintained the brightness in the oldest leaves, with none of that
dirty brown colour you so often see with the 'reds'. The only other I
grow is C. indivisa which I have as young seedlings. I'm keen to give
C. banksii a go at some stage as well, but cannot find a suitable
place for it.
>The other which I acquired
>last year, is C pumilia in a lovely red form (I think it is called Red
>Fountain).
This sounds very interesting, does this form an elongated stem
eventually or does it remain as a tuft of leaves? I'm not sure
whether it has put in an appearance over here yet. If it has got to
Australia, I might be able to get hold of it via an importer I know.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/gardenviews.html
