Olearia traversii

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Olearia traversii
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:9
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Evergreen
Height:33'
Speed:Moderate
Blooms:Early Summer
Native to:
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Olearia traversii

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[5][3][4].

This species is not very hardy in Britain[3], plants have succeeded outdoors at Kew but not at other inland sites[2]. When grown by the coast, plants have also succeeded as far north as Scarborough on the east coast[2][5]. Flowers best in years following long hot summers[4].

Very tolerant of severe pruning, plants can be pruned right back into old wood in order to promote fresh growth[4]. It is best to trim new growth by 50% each year for the first three years after planting in order to promote basal shoots[6][5]. Any pruning is best done in the spring[2].

Range: New Zealand.

Habitat: Forests on Chatham Island[7].

Usage: Very resistant to maritime exposure and tolerant of severe pruning, this plant can be used as an effective windbreak hedge in exposed maritime areas. Fairly fast growing, reaching 2 metres within 6 years in a very exposed site at Rosewarne in Cornwall[5].

Pollinators: Insects

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure

In Leaf: Evergreen

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Rosewarne Experimental Horticultural Station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1984.
  6. Shepherd, F. W.. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society, 1974.
  7. Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.