Olearia avicenniifolia
| Olearia avicenniifolia | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 16' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Olearia avicenniifolia (common name: akeake)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow in early spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. If growth has been sufficiently good, plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year, otherwise grow them on for another year in pots and plant them out the following early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in late August and overwinter in a cold frame then plant out in late spring or early summer[1]. Good percentage[2].
Cuttings of moderately ripe wood of the current years growth, 5 - 10cm with a heel, November in a frame. High percentage[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in any well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[3][4]. Thrives in a chalky soil[3] but prefers a light loam or peaty soil[2]. Very tolerant of maritime exposure[2][5]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[4].
This species is not very hardy outside the milder western and south-western maritime areas of Britain[6], tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[7]. Another report says that it is hardy to about -15°c[4].
Very slow growing in Britain[5], the plants generally only reach 2 - 3 metres tall in cultivation in this country.
Plants can be pruned right back into old wood in order to promote fresh growth[4]. Any pruning is best done in the spring[2].
Some named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[3].
Flowers best in years following long hot summers[4]. The flowers are sweetly scented[7].
Range: New Zealand.
Habitat: Sub-alpine scrub to 1000 metres in South Island.
Usage: Very resistant to maritime exposure and tolerant of severe pruning[2][8][9][4], this plant can be used as an effective windbreak hedge in exposed maritime areas[5]. It is rather slow growing though[5].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: O. albida. Hort. non Hook.f.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Rosewarne Experimental Horticultural Station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1984.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Arnold-Forster, William. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.