Flannel Flower seed
The best time to collect seed is around Christmas time. After flowers have been pollinated by a variety of insects which crawl over the flower head, the petals contract back over the head protecting developing seeds. When seeds are ready the petals open again and gradually fall away leaving the seeds in a round cluster (like a dandelion). They can be easily pulled off and stored in a paper bag or envelope. Don't store in plastic at this stage because they could rot. Seeds can be sown without treatment for up to two months. After that they need to be treated.
The best time to sow seed is in early spring or late summer.
Add seed to a jar filled with water and a few drops of Wettasoil and cover with a tight lid. Shake vigorously from time to time.
After an hour remove wet seed and sow on top of a large deep punnet filled with seed raising mix.
Cover lightly with perlite or smoke impregnated vermiculite. The first seedlings should appear in 40 days.
Prick out seedlings when the first grey leaves appear. They can be potted into tubes filled with premium potting mix or in a group of three in a tub.
Water sparingly. The tubes need to be elevated to allow water to drain freely out of the drainage holes.
The best time to collect seed is around Christmas time. After flowers have been pollinated by a variety of insects which crawl over the flower head, the petals contract back over the head protecting developing seeds. When seeds are ready the petals open again and gradually fall away leaving the seeds in a round cluster (like a dandelion). They can be easily pulled off and stored in a paper bag or envelope. Don't store in plastic at this stage because they could rot. Seeds can be sown without treatment for up to two months. After that they need to be treated.
The best time to sow seed is in early spring or late summer.
Add seed to a jar filled with water and a few drops of Wettasoil and cover with a tight lid. Shake vigorously from time to time.
After an hour remove wet seed and sow on top of a large deep punnet filled with seed raising mix.
Cover lightly with perlite or smoke impregnated vermiculite. The first seedlings should appear in 40 days.
Prick out seedlings when the first grey leaves appear. They can be potted into tubes filled with premium potting mix or in a group of three in a tub.
Water sparingly. The tubes need to be elevated to allow water to drain freely out of the drainage holes.
Image 1 & 2 - Telopea 'Essie's Gift'
Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens Waratah Festival 2017
This is held each year towards the end of September. The competition display appears to be getting smaller but it could have been a bad year with the long dry spell. Of the seedlings the winning bloom was grown by Craig Scott and there were 4 Highly Commended. Of the cultivar section Gordon Meiklejohn won both Champion bloom with his stunning Wirrimbirra White and Cultivar winner with Bridal Gown. There were some interesting cultivars but some are unnamed - only numbered. It's possible that many of these do not have registered names yet. Frank Allatt provided names for most of the blooms on show. It appears that selected seedlings appear to be used to develop new varieties. Below are photos taken of the entries by Don Hitchcock.
This is held each year towards the end of September. The competition display appears to be getting smaller but it could have been a bad year with the long dry spell. Of the seedlings the winning bloom was grown by Craig Scott and there were 4 Highly Commended. Of the cultivar section Gordon Meiklejohn won both Champion bloom with his stunning Wirrimbirra White and Cultivar winner with Bridal Gown. There were some interesting cultivars but some are unnamed - only numbered. It's possible that many of these do not have registered names yet. Frank Allatt provided names for most of the blooms on show. It appears that selected seedlings appear to be used to develop new varieties. Below are photos taken of the entries by Don Hitchcock.
Actinotus forsythii - Pink Flannel Flower
Following the wonderful work of Lloyd Hedges and the Menai Group, plants are now available to the public through Sydney Wildflower Nursery at Heathcote. Genetic studies to introduce the pink gene into A. helianthi are also underway in Melbourne.
Sydney Wildflower Nursery has
supertubes @ $15.00 each or
140mm pots @ $19.50 each.
9 Veno Street
Heathcote NSW 2233
Phone: 02 9548 2818
Email: [email protected]
_________________________________________________________________________
Tranter method of Waratah seed germination
This involves filling a plastic container with wet Sphagnum Moss (available at Bunnings).Bury the seed in the wet moss and place the lid on top. The container then goes in a dark cupboard in the house which is kept warm during the winter. So far results have been quite spectacular. Fresh Telopea seed has germinated in 8 - 12 days. Some old Telopea truncata seed purchased from Nindethana has germinated in 2 weeks. I had tried germinating this seed in punnets of seed raising mix with no success. I am now trialling Banksia and Hakea seed as well. The Sphagnum moss doesn't seem to deteriorate so you can use the same batch of moss over and over again. A description of the method has been written up in SG Newsletter No 11 now posted onto the Documents page.
_________________________________________________________________________
Telopea 'Essie's Gift'
Named in honour of the late Essie Huxley, famous for her luminous yellow Waratah. Essie collaborated with plant breeder Brian Fitzpatrick of NSW who developed the Wild Brumby range of Waratahs. Now available from Cool Natives Nursery.
Description
1m x 1.5m Fl. Spring
A unique low growing, compact hybrid waratah with deep pink flowers on arching stems.Grow in full sun to part shade but protect from westerly sun and wind. Can be grown as a hedge or as a specimen plant. Excellent for medium to large tubs or grown in courtyards. Good cut flower will last for up to two weeks. Water regularly till established then deep water periodically during the summer and dry periods.
Requires fertile well-drained soil. Mulch well and give the plant space. Do not underplant as Waratahs do not like competition in the root zone. Prune back stems by a third after flowering to promote bushiness and more flowers in the next season. Fertilise with Blood and Bone + Trace Elements or slow release native granules in spring and autumn.
For more reading:
Ref: https://www.facebook.com/Jigsaw.garden.centre/posts/867986609965085
http://www.pma.com.au/fact_files/t_%20essiesgift_fs.pdf
The story of Essie Huxley
http://hillviewrareplants.com.au/ramblings/essies-waratah-and-others
_________________________________________________________________________
Fertilising:
I am beginning to think that people are overly cautious with fertilisers especially when it comes to the hybrids. I have been foliar fertilising with Searle's Flourish with excellent results. The plants are putting on strong fresh growth.
Following the wonderful work of Lloyd Hedges and the Menai Group, plants are now available to the public through Sydney Wildflower Nursery at Heathcote. Genetic studies to introduce the pink gene into A. helianthi are also underway in Melbourne.
Sydney Wildflower Nursery has
supertubes @ $15.00 each or
140mm pots @ $19.50 each.
9 Veno Street
Heathcote NSW 2233
Phone: 02 9548 2818
Email: [email protected]
_________________________________________________________________________
Tranter method of Waratah seed germination
This involves filling a plastic container with wet Sphagnum Moss (available at Bunnings).Bury the seed in the wet moss and place the lid on top. The container then goes in a dark cupboard in the house which is kept warm during the winter. So far results have been quite spectacular. Fresh Telopea seed has germinated in 8 - 12 days. Some old Telopea truncata seed purchased from Nindethana has germinated in 2 weeks. I had tried germinating this seed in punnets of seed raising mix with no success. I am now trialling Banksia and Hakea seed as well. The Sphagnum moss doesn't seem to deteriorate so you can use the same batch of moss over and over again. A description of the method has been written up in SG Newsletter No 11 now posted onto the Documents page.
_________________________________________________________________________
Telopea 'Essie's Gift'
Named in honour of the late Essie Huxley, famous for her luminous yellow Waratah. Essie collaborated with plant breeder Brian Fitzpatrick of NSW who developed the Wild Brumby range of Waratahs. Now available from Cool Natives Nursery.
Description
1m x 1.5m Fl. Spring
A unique low growing, compact hybrid waratah with deep pink flowers on arching stems.Grow in full sun to part shade but protect from westerly sun and wind. Can be grown as a hedge or as a specimen plant. Excellent for medium to large tubs or grown in courtyards. Good cut flower will last for up to two weeks. Water regularly till established then deep water periodically during the summer and dry periods.
Requires fertile well-drained soil. Mulch well and give the plant space. Do not underplant as Waratahs do not like competition in the root zone. Prune back stems by a third after flowering to promote bushiness and more flowers in the next season. Fertilise with Blood and Bone + Trace Elements or slow release native granules in spring and autumn.
For more reading:
Ref: https://www.facebook.com/Jigsaw.garden.centre/posts/867986609965085
http://www.pma.com.au/fact_files/t_%20essiesgift_fs.pdf
The story of Essie Huxley
http://hillviewrareplants.com.au/ramblings/essies-waratah-and-others
_________________________________________________________________________
Fertilising:
I am beginning to think that people are overly cautious with fertilisers especially when it comes to the hybrids. I have been foliar fertilising with Searle's Flourish with excellent results. The plants are putting on strong fresh growth.