Cyathodes colensoi
| Cyathodes colensoi | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Cyathodes colensoi
Propagation: Seed - surface sow in ericaceous soil, February/March in a cold frame[1]. Do not exclude light[1]. Germination can take place within 1 - 2 months at 18°c but often takes 3 - 5 years[2]. Scarification will reduce the germination time and 2 or 3 periods of 4 - 6 weeks cold stratification alternated with 4 weeks warm stratification can also help[3]. Perhaps sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe would also be beneficial[K].The seedlings can be very slow to form roots and need to be potted up with great care[2]. Grow them on in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4]. Neither easy nor reliable[2].
Air layering[2].
Cultivation: Requires a moist well-drained lime-free humus rich soil in a sheltered site in partial or dappled shade[5][1][2]. Plants are very susceptible to drought[2]. A good rock garden plant. Slow growing[5].
This species is fairly hardy in Britain but it can be damaged in very severe winters[5]. Another report says that it is only hardy to about -5°c[2], but plants have been seen growing on a very shady north-facing slope in a rock garden at Kew, which experiences lower temperatures than this[K]. These plants were undamaged after the very cold winter of 1996 - 97 and were flowering freely in April 1997[K]. Plants grow best in areas with moderate winters and cool moist summers[2].
The sweetly scented flowers are produced in axillary clusters[6].
Plants have very fine root systems and great care must be taken when transplanting them[7].
Range: New Zealand.
Habitat: Montane to lower sub-alpine open grassland to rocky places and fellfield on North and South Islands[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet mealy flesh[9]. Rarely seen on plants growing in Britain[5]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[2]. One report says that the fruit contains up to 24% by dry weight of oil[9], does this refer to the seed?[K].
Usage: A most attractive ground cover plant for the winter garden[10].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Leucopogon colensoi.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Focus on Plants Volume 5. Thompson and Morgan, 1991.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Brooker, Stanley. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.