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.
Telopea oreades 'Errinundra White'
Note:
First received as 'Plateau View Alba', then changed to 'Plateau View
White'. Finally registered as 'Errinundra White'.
This cultivar is a white flowered selection with other
characteristics as for the species. T. oreades is a small tree with showy
red inflorescences. Leaves are oblanceolate, alternate, simple, entire,
dark green and shiny above, slightly glaucous beneath, borne on a petiole
ca. 5mm long; a prominent raised midrib below, sunken on the upper surface.
Flowers are borne in large terminal racemes in spring and early summer.
Fruit is a brown, leathery follicle 60-70mm long with a curved persistent
style 30-40mm long.
Diagnosis:
The cultivar is distinguished by its white flowers. All other
characteristics are those of the species.
Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Cockatoo'
This cultivar forms a bush that is compact and very dense and grows to plus/minus 1m tall x plus/minus 1m wide. The leaves are covered with fine hairs which gives them a greyish bloom. They are oblanceolate in shape and vary from 6 to 12cm in length. The stems are also covered in fine
hairs. The inflorescence is large, averaging 7cm in diameter. The ray florets are very numerous and are plus/minus 21.5cm long. They are a light lemon yellow in colour, with odd flowers showing mottled ray florets of a deeper yellow colour. The disc florets are a golden orange. The flowers are
displayed well on long stems held some 12-15cm above the foliage. The flowering period is spread over spring, summer and autumn but some flowers are found all year round.
Diagnosis:
The cultivar differs from its parents in the colour of its inflorescence and the size and shape of the shrub. Its perennial habit is the same as for both parents.
Crowea exalata 'Green Cape'
It is a prostrate plant reaching a height of about 150mm but
with a spread of about 800mm. The leaves are up to 20mm long by 3mm wide.
Oil glands are clearly visible on the underside of the leaves. The mauve
flowers are produced in the leaf axils on semi-mature growth. After
flowering the petals change colour to white then green. They remain green
and protect the seeds while they mature.
Diagnosis:
This cultivar is different from known normal forms of Crowea
exalata in its prostrate habit. The usual height attained is 1-2m.
Grevillea 'Poorinda Elegance'
Leaves are a bright shiny green on upper surface, but covered
with dense silky hairs on underside. Each leaf is up to about 4cm long and
about 4-6mm wide and pungent. The edges are slightly rolled under. Flowers
are yellow with contrasting bright pink style, are produced in loose heads
on the ends of short branches. Short leaf-like bracts are usually seen
within each flower head. Individual flowers, yellow about 1.2cm long while
the bright pink styles are about 2.2cm long. Flowers are said to be
sterile.
Note:
This cultivar can be expected to grow to a height of about 1.5m by
about 2m wide.
Diagnosis:
The flower colours of yellow and bright pink distinguish this
cultivar from its assumed parents.
Callistemon 'Mauve Mist'
This cultivar forms a dense shrub to a height of about 3m with
an equal or slightly wider spread. The leaves are entire and about 50mm
long by about 8mm wide.The new tip growth is pink and densely covered with
silky hairs.The flowers are produced in dense "bottlebrush " clusters. The
clusters are often produced in bunches. Individual "bottlebrushes"are
pinkish mauve and about 70mm long by about 50mm wide. The stamens are the
colourful part of the flower. It is reported that this cultivar will flower
as late as Christmas.
Diagnosis:
This cultivar is different from Callistemon 'Reeve's Pink' in
flower colour. Callistemon 'Mauve Mist' has pinkish-mauve "brushes"
compared with pink for Callistemon 'Reeve's Pink'.
Telopea 'Braidwood Brilliant'
The leaves are coriaceous, narrow and cuneate tapering from a long petiole. The margin is slightly undulating but at the top is distinctly toothed. The leaves measure between 15 and 20cms in length. Flowers: The flower colour, a brilliant cherry-red has been determined using the RHS Colour Chart (1966) to be Red 53B to 53C (ie style 53C). The inflorescence is slightly less conical and less dense than T. speciosissima but vastly superior to T. mongaensis in this regard with a flower diameter of 6-8cm. Bracts are present but these are less colourful than in T. speciosissima. The flowering period lasts for 2-3 weeks in October.
Notes: