Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Princess of Wales'
This cultivar grows into a compact, dense shrub 0.6m tall by
0.6m wide. The leaves are mostly glabrous though the midrib is covered with
a fine mantle of silky hairs. Some scattered silky hairs occur also along
the leaf margins. The younger stems are covered in a dense coat of similar
silky hairs which diminish as the stems become older. The leaves average
between 5 and 9cm in length. The flower heads average 5 to 1.5cm long while
the rays of the inner bracts average 1 to 1.5cm long. Both are a rich gold
in colour. The stigmas are orange colour when they emerge. The flowers are
on long stems that emerge well above the foliage. The flowering season in
Canberra is from October to April but occasional flowers may be found all
year round. The flowering period should not be markedly different in other
parts of Australia.
Diagnosis:
This cultivar may be distinguished from the presumed parent
forms by the following features. The cultivar has the perennial habit of
Xerochrysum 'Dargan Hill Monarch' but lacks the greyish appearance provided
by the fine silky hairs. This perennial habit differs from the annual habit
of the other presumed parent form. The main distinguishing characteristic
is in the cultivar's flowering habit. As flowers die the stem withers and
the whole flower stem and dead flowerheads disappear into the lower foliage
of the plant. At the same time new growth emerges from lower on the plant
and extends above the foliage again. These new stems then bear new
inflorescences. The cultivar is also very free flowering.
Other notes:
The free flowering habit together with the growth habit of
"hiding" the spent flower heads make this a very desirable plant for
cultivation. The cultivar is named in honour of her Royal Highness the
Princess of Wales on the occasion of her visit to the Australian National
Botanic Gardens on 7 November 1985. The cultivar is frost hardy and
moderately drought hardy. The cultivar must be propagated by vegetative
means to preserve the cultivar form.
Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Pink Sunrise'
A dense perennial with a width of 60 cm and height of 30 cm.
The pink buds open to cream with an orange centre.
Diagnosis:
Xerochrysum 'Pink Sunrise' is similar to Xerochrysum 'Diamond
Head' but flower colour differs. Xerochrysum 'Diamond Head' is 0.2 m x 0.5
m with 3 cm flower heads held well above narrow green foliage; flowers
yellow with an orange centre.
Brachyscome 'Ramboreef'
The vibrant purple pink flower colour is a striking feature of this new brachyscome. Has a compact suckering growth habit and divided foliage. Good accent plant for garden, and great for containers for patios, courtyards and poolside.
Callistemon 'Reeve's Pink'
The cultivar forms a dense shrub to a height of about 3m with an equal or slightly wider spread. The leaves are entire and about 45mm long by about 8mm wide. The new tip growth is pink and densely covered in silky hairs. The flowers are produced in dense "bottlebrush" clusters which
are themselves often grouped into bunches. Individual "bottlebrushes: are pink and about 70mm long and about 40mm wide. The stamens are the colourful part of the flower.
Diagnosis:
This cultivar is different from its possible parent in its slightly more spreading habit and pink flower colour. The usual colour of Callistemon citrinus is red or lemon.
Callistemon viminalis 'Prolific'
A small tree to 6m high by 4m across with pendulous branch
tips. The leaves are narrowly elliptical to 50mm long by 7mm wide. The
bright red flowers are borne in spikes clustered near the branch ends. Each
spike is about 80mm long by 40mm across. They are seen in late spring and
summer and again in autumn in the eastern states and from June to October
in Western Australia.
Diagnosis:
The only significant differences between this and other forms of
C. viminalis are its prolific flowering habit and the flowering spikes
borne in clusters at the branch ends. The branch ends are not as pendulous
as some forms. It is not readily identifiable.
Grevillea 'Orange Marmalade'
This cultivar grows into an open shrub to 2.5m tall by 2m
wide. Leaves ca. 70mm long, densely covered beneath with closely appressed
grey velvety hairs. Leaf veins coated with short brown hairs which are also
present on the stems. Upper surface appears glabrous but is sparsely coated
with very short appressed silky hairs. Flowers are borne in short terminal
racemes and are found sporadically throughout the year; perianth tube
curved and densely covered in brown and grey hairs; style ca. 25mm long,
reddish-black in colour with a thick covering of long brown hairs along
full length of style, large tufts of brown and grey hairs at base of style.
Diagnosis:
G. venusta:
Erect, spreading shrub 2-4m X 2-5m; leaves 100-200mm long lobed
or entire, silky hairy underneath with rusty hairs along the veins; flowers
green and orange, appressed rusty hairs on perianth; styles reddish-black,
25mm long, coated in silky hairs, racemes loose but erect, 20-60mm long and
terminal on short branchlets. Flowers most of the year
G. 'Orange Marmalade':
Open shrub 2.5m tall X 2m wide; leaves entire 70mm
long, silky hairy underneath with rusty hairs along veins; flowers orange ,
perianth clothed in brown and grey hairs; style is erect, ca. 25mm long and
has thick covering of brown hairs with large tufts of hair at the base;
flowers in short terminal racemes.
G. glossadenia:
Shrub 1-2m X 1-2m wide; leaves 50-120mm long, greyish-hairy
beneath; flowers orange, red & yellow, spider shape, perianth hairy; style
20-27mm long, flowers in dense clusters winter & spring but spasmodic
Grevillea 'Poorinda Leane'
It is said this cultivar will reach a height of about 4m and
has a spreading habit. Leaves are dark glossy green on the upper surface
whilst the underside is covered with silky white hairs. Each leaf is up to
4cm long and about 4mm wide and is pungent. Leaf edges are rolled under.
Flowers are buff to apricot and produced in terminal clusters on short
branchlets. Each flower is about 1.5 - 2cm long, styles are red and up to
2.5cm in length.Although this cultivar is similar to G. 'Poorinda Queen',
it can be distinguished from it by the longer leaves, its flower colour and
its spreading habit.
Callistemon 'Western Glory'
Grows 2-3 m wide by 2-4 m high as a medium upright shrub.
Leaves are 4-7 cm by 1cm lanceolate ending in sharp point, leathery
prominent central and marginal nerves, young growth covered in long hairs,
glabrous when mature. Flower spikes to 12 cm by 5 cm, mauve red terminal,
often in clusters densely arranged.
Diagnosis:
With close affinities to Callistemon citrinus, this cultivar is
said to be similar to C. 'Red Clusters' but flower spikes are 2 to 4 cm
longer and 1 cm wider. The flower colour is red-mauve to pink against red
in C. 'Red Clusters'.
Grevillea 'Old Gold'
Grevillea ' Old Gold' is a shrub of medium to high density
which grows to a height of about 30cm and width of about 1m. The leaves
usually have from 4-5 pungent tipped lobes but are occasionally entire. The
flowers are arranged in semi-erect clusters and are greyed yellow with pink
styles which fade to apricot. They are most prolific from July-October with
a further flush in late Summer-Autumn. There is no new foliage growth at
the peak of flowering.
Diagnosis:
The outstanding feature of the plant is the new growth of the
foliage which is yellow gold and contrasts with the darker green of the
more mature leaves. This cultivar differs from its parents mainly in
foliage characteristics. The leaves of G. juniperina are totally different,
being narrow and linear, the only similarity being the pungent tips. G. '
Old Gold' shares the lobed leaf characteristic of G. ilicifolia but he
latter has nore obtuse lobes and does not have lighter coloured new growth.
G. ilicifolia also differs in having red, toothbrush type flower clusters.
The flowers of G. ' Old Gold' are more like those of G. juniperina which
can also have greenish yellow clusters but which has much broader styles
and style ends than G. ' Old Gold'.
Grevillea 'Eileen Rose'
This cultivar grows from 1.5-2m tall by up to 2m across and
has a fairly open habit. The foliage is greyish and similar in size and
shape to Grevillea 'Misty Pink'. The flowers are in terminal spikes between
10-15cm long and are a deep rosy pink with pink styles. Flowers measure ca.
12cm long by 5cm across. Flowering is continuous throughout the year.
DIAGNOSIS:
Grevillea 'Eileen Rose' - ca. 2m tall x 1.5m wide, deep pink flowers with pink styles, open habit
Grevillea 'Misty Pink' - 3-5m tall x 1.5m tall, soft pink flowers with orange pink styles densely foliaged
Generally Grevillea 'Eileen Rose' is a smaller shrub than Grevillea 'Misty
Pink' with deeper pink flowers and with more open habit.