Alpine needlebush is an unusual tree/shrub from cold high elevation areas of Australia into Tasmania with spiky modified phyllodes as leaves. The spiky leaves are blue green and it forms an airy conifer like large plant very quickly. In spring flossy white flowers crowd the blue green leaf axils and are showy for several weeks. Full sun and average to poor well drained soil. Little summer water once established. Fast growing in youth to its ultimate size. Cold hardy for us to 5ºF but avoid exposure to subfreezing winds. Proteaceous- do not fertilize or even add compost. Un amended native soils are ideal. Very attractive to birds who will use the leaves as perches. Humming birds love this plant in bloom as well. To 9′ tall and 6′ wide in 6 years. Great on slopes. Casts no shade- great textural element year round. High deer resistance. Very unusual plant- out of the ordinary and cool. Pronounced HAY-kee-uh.
Family: Proteaceae
We love cold hardy plants in the Protea family, not only do they have exotic flowers, they can sport foliage that is just as interesting , Hakea nodosa is another shrubby Hakea that is known as yellow Hakea. Multiple fine stems emerge from the ground and are staunchly vertical. They have few side branches and each stem is clad in slightly swollen blue phyllodes, these are not prickly and are about 1 cm long. In spring, very small yellow flowers crowd the leaf axils on older wood.- not conspicuous but hummingbirds find them. An upright small shrub to about 6′ tall and 2′ wide. Pollinated flowers produce large seed pods that can cause the stems to nod, not sure if this is what the specific name refers to. Moderately fast growing in native, un-amended soil that drains, including clay soils that dry in summer. Water to establish then extremely tolerant of drought. A wonderful textural evergreen that we love at Xera. An excellent companion to Grevilleas, Ceanothus, Halimium, Arctostaphylos.. Fulll sun to very very light shade. This form has been cold hardy below 10ºF in western Oregon with a probable lowest temperature around 5ºF. Native to areas of South Australia into Tasmania. Ours are grown from high elevation, cold hardy seed from Tasmania. Lovely soft, rare shrub . Pronounced HAY- kee -uh. But with an Australian accent. Well adapted to the Oregon coast and can be cultivated on sand. Deer resistant, but protect newly installed plants from rabbits. Very easy to grow, a natural with ornamental grasses and large hardy succulents, Cactus, Agaves. Not prickly but rather soft.
Lomatia myricoides
River Lomatia is an elegant but always rare evergreen shrub that has been grown for decades in the PNW but has never been common. This high elevation Australian shrub has dazzling long thin foliage with fine and irregular indentations. The upper surface of the leaf is blue green with an underside of pale blue white. In May sweetly fragrant clouds of ivory colored curly flowers eminate from the the ends of each branch. They create a hazy effect over the handsome foliage. Multitrunked shrub to 12′ tall with a pronounced arching habit. You may prune errant horizontal branches in place of vertical to train the shrub to be more upright. Otherwise the splay stems clad in flowers are delightful and elegant rather than sloppy looking. Excellent performance in protected courtyards. Cold hardy near 0ºF (briefly) once established. Native primarily above 3500′ in the Australian mountains. Full sun and a warm position with light, consistent summer water. Accepts regular irrigation better than most proteoides. Tolerates ice and snow- very bendable branches. Cut foliage ( and flowers) is wonderful in arrangements. Could be deer resistant. Beautiful shrub.
Lomatia polymorpha
One of the world’s most fascinating shrubs. Polymorpha in this case specifically refers to the leaves which are a different, form, shape, and texture on each individual plant. Very unusual for a hardy shrub. In early summer each form produces upright 5″ tall trusses of ivory/white flowers that are sweetly fragrant- blooms appear for 2 to 3 weeks. An evergreen shrub- usually of fine texture, that grows moderately fast to 3′-6′ in 5 years. In time the shrub will be larger. Full sun and light summer water, avoid sites with standing water in winter. Excellent on slopes. Native to the highest elevations of Tasmania. Its been cold hardy to about 5ºF. In cold gardens I would err on the side of protected. Does not tolerate shade of any kind. Full, all day sun. Light summer water. We have chosen three clones that we think are particularly handsome and we will be trialing those plants. Until then seedlings all with variable foliage are what we offer. Some have a very compact congested habit while others have stretched out and appear to be ultimately larger plants. Excellent as cut foliage as well as cut flowers. A large shrub in full bloom is a beautiful, sophisticated, party of curly ivory flowers. Fantastic. Might be deer resistant. Very good performance at the Oregon coast. Very rare shrub. Proteaceaous- avoid compost and fertilizers. Mulch with bark/ wood chips. Best as a single specimen. Most applicable common name ‘Variable leaf Lomatia’. That about covers it.
Lomatia tinctoria
AKA Guitar Plant from Tasmania. Still can’t tell why its called that. Perhaps the shape of the finely divided leaves? I dunno. Awesome shrub though that only reaches about 4′ high and 3′ wide in 7 years. In mid-late spring amazing 1′ long spikes rise and unfurl a multitude of curly ivory colored flowers. The effect is pure Monet. Compact evergreen for poor to average well drained soil. Little to no summer water when established. Does not do shade, of any kind. Do not try. Best sited in a protected location- against a south or west facing wall for instance. Elegant thing. Thanks, Tasmania.
Photo credit: Loree Bohl (Danger Garden)
Telopea x ‘Braidwood Seedlings’
Waratah of Australia, this extraordinary shrub produces some of the most alluring flowers in the flower kingdom. A tall growing evergreen shrub with handsome leaves. In spring and often again in late summer crown shaped flowers emerge purple and open to circular red flowers at the branch tips. These are seedlings of Telopea x ‘Braidwood Brilliant’ which is a hybrid selected for excellent cold hardiness for the cut flower trade. Protea- which means you should avoid fertilizer and too much compost. Rich to average soils- pure loam is ideal in a protected location in full sun to part shade. Avoid reflected heat. Light summer water. Not the easiest shrub to establish but the care and patience are worth it in the end. Cold hardy to approximately 5ºF. Protect from subfreezing wind. Amazing cut flower that lasts for weeks in a vase- if you can spare a stem. Excellent performance at the Oregon Coast. To 12′ x 8′.
Xera Plants Introduction.