The way to keep away from Christmas Timber …
As ordinary I’ve been wracking my brains for the previous few weeks attempting to think about one thing unique and garden-related to say about Christmas.
Over the past ten years I’ve tackled all types of issues Christmasy from Hellebores to Brussels Sprouts and Amaryllis to Ivy. I’ve even checked out synthetic Christmas flowers while studiously avoiding the apparent issues corresponding to Christmas timber . Sadly I believed this 12 months I may need to provide in, and for need of something higher lastly give in and have a look at firs, spruces and pines however in beginning my analysis I found one other seasonal topic which permits me to keep away from them for at the very least one other 12 months!
So when you don’t know a lot about Moodjar or Pōhutukawa then learn on…
and see when you can work out what would possibly they’ve in frequent with Bursaria, Blandfordia, Prostanthera, Ceratopetalum, or Calanthe?
The reply might be apparent when you’re a botanist, particularly when you’re a botanist from the opposite aspect of the globe, as they’re all plant households which have species that flower round Christmas time and have Christmas as a part of their on a regular basis non-Latin names. The primary three households all include timber and so theoretically at the very least able to standing in for the Norway spruce or its equal in your sitting room proper now. Most of those vegetation have been launched to Britain about 200 years in the past and went into cultivation, and even business manufacturing, in hothouses quickly after their arrival however they’re all comparatively unknown right here as we speak.
Nuytsia floribunda
Picture credit score: enjosmith/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
So let’s check out a few of them beginning with moodjar, which in botanical Latin is Nuytsia floribunda and which comes from south western Australia. It is a very uncommon tree on a number of counts. Initially, it’s the most important parasitic plant on the earth (or fairly hemiparasite ie it will get its water and vitamins from different vegetation but additionally photosynthesises on the similar time) Although it will probably develop as much as 10 metres tall considered one of its closest relations is mistletoe.
Subsequent, in keeping with Australian Geographic journal, when considered one of its roots meets the roots of one other plant it kinds a collar of tissue round it, like a swollen marriage ceremony ring, and a pointy edge or blade kinds inside that slices into the opposite root to achieve vitamin and water from it. The sting is so sharp it will probably additionally minimize by underground cables or human pores and skin. Not like many different parasitic vegetation Nuytsia is indiscriminate about host vegetation and can batten onto the roots of any inexperienced dwelling issues with every tree drawing on massive numbers of victims as much as 100 metres away.
In fact, the explanation that it’s included in as we speak’s weblog is due to its extraordinary clusters of flowers which kind enormous inflorescences, as much as a metre lengthy between late October and January. Early European colonists known as it the Fireplace Tree or the Flame Tree however it quickly grew to become the West Australian Christmas Tree,
The Noongar and Wadandi folks who’re the standard inhabitants of the world the place it grows contemplate it sacred, with every flower representing the spirit of an individual that has handed on, whereas its vibrant sundown colors remind folks that “our spirits journey throughout the nation, by the caves and over the ocean the place the solar units for our closing resting place.”
For extra on the standard significance of Nuytsia Floribunda see this put up from Anthropology from the Shed.
Nuytsia was first recorded on the coast of Esperance Bay in south west Australia, by Jacques Labillardière a naturalist on the 1790s expedition to the antipodes led by Bruni d’Entrecasteaux. This was early within the wars between Britain and revolutionary France and on their return journey residence all Labillardière’s work was captured by a British fleet. Fortunately he was a pal of Joseph Banks who, when he discovered, persuaded the British Authorities to return them “so that he might be able to publish his Observations on Pure Historical past in a whole method. By this her Majesty will lose an acquisition to her herbarium, which I very a lot want’d to see deposited there, however the nationwide character of Nice Britain will definitely acquire a lot credit score for holding a conduct in the direction of Science and Scientific males liberal within the highest diploma.” Labillardiere then revealed a preferred account of his journey in 1800 and adopted it up with the primary account of Australian vegetation Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen between 1804 and 1806. Nuytsia was named in honour of a 17thc Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts, and the primary scientific description was revealed in 1834 by George Don [more on him in this earlier post]
Flowers of the Flame-Tree and Yellow and Black Twiner, West Australia, Marianne North
Picture credit score: The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
In fact most early colonists weren’t taken with Nuytsia’s botany however in any financial worth it may need. They have been fairly upset as a result of the wooden is commercially ineffective and the gum ,whereas candy and utilized by the indigenous folks, has little worth.
Nevertheless Marianne North was smitten by it saying: “I shall always remember one plain we got here to, totally surrounded by the nuytsia or mistletoe timber, in a full blaze of bloom. It seemed like a bush-fire with out smoke.”
So what are the possibilities of it being a substitute Christmas tree right here within the west? Sadly fairly slim I feel as a result of though Nuytsia will develop readily from seed, it’s troublesome to transplant and it’s uncommon for it to outlive for greater than a 12 months or two outdoors of its pure vary.
Metrosideros excelsa ‘Lizard Lights’
Picture from Cross Frequent Nursery, probably the most southerly in Britain
Extra conventional Christmasy in color is the New Zealand tree pōhutukawa or ‘splashed by the ocean’ in Maori. In botanic Latin it’s the nearly as equally troublesome to pronounce Metrosideros excelsa. I used to be fortunate sufficient years in the past to see it in flower in its residence nation, and WOW was it spectacular, so no surprise it’s generally referred to outdoors New Zealand because the New Zealand Christmas tree.
It’s an evergreen within the myrtle household, normally rising by the coast of North Island, and infrequently in troublesome rocky positions. They produce an incredible present of crimson stamens, though there’s nice variation in kind and color with small numbers of naturally occurring pink, yellow and white variations, while hybridisation has elevated the color vary even additional.
Pōhutukawa is a crucial tree to Maori as it’s believed that spirits depart to the subsequent world through the sacred tree rising at Cape Reinga on the northernmost tip of North Island nation.
Sadly, there are a number of the reason why pōhutukawa most likely wouldn’t make good replacements for Christmas timber right here. Firstly they’re very vulnerable to frost. Meaning the one elements of Britain the place they stand an opportunity are the mildest and most sheltered elements of Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles and to show that time there are a gaggle rising at Tresco Abbey. Nevertheless there’s hope that new hybrids are proving extra resistant and there are even some now being provided by nurseries in Cornwall.
Rowan, Ellis, Flower and chicken work
Flower & Fowl work
Pōhutukawa additionally normally develop as multi-trunked spreading timber, nonetheless, since they’ll develop to 25m typically with extremely gnarled trunks and branches that may be festooned with bunches of hanging aerial roots. they’d take up an excessive amount of house-room , so may solely probably be a substitute for the one in Trafalgar Sq. ,
So if it’s not horrible sensible to think about hanging your baubles on Nuytsia or Metrosideros possibly you could possibly contemplate some smaller alternate options. Maybe Blandfordia would match the invoice? Often known as Christmas Bells in its native Australia there are 4 species, though they hybridise fairly simply and there are a number of naturally occurring crosses.
The identify Blandfordia was chosen in 1804 by Sir James Edward Smith, the founding father of the Linnaean Society, in honour of George Spencer Churchill, then the Marquis of Blandford who was a fantastic collector, gardener and spendthrift at his property at Whiteknights close to Studying. Smith had been despatched dried specimens collected round Sydney and named them B. nobilis. Seeds have been additionally being despatched over to London nurseries round about the identical time, though the primary flowers didn’t seem till 1818 at Whiteley and Brames’ nursery.
There was initially loads of confusion as a result of ,as European exploration of Australia proceeded, three extra species of have been found. The primary was distinct: Blandfordia punicea which is endemic to Tasmania the place it’s widespread. It was first named in 1805 however it wasn’t till 1842 {that a} plant flowered in England, on the Fulham nursery of Messrs. Osborne and Co.
Subsequent got here a bigger flowered variety which grows alongside the coast and tablelands of New South Wales and southern Queensland.
Gradual-growing with grass-like leaves and flower spikes having some ten to twenty bell-like flowers that fluctuate from yellow to crimson with yellow suggestions, it was collected and named B. grandiflora by Robert Brown in 1810.
Our drawing of this very good liliaceous plant was made at Mr. Colvill’s Nursery, in August. The plant was rising within the open border of a brand new conservatory, the place it flowered in nice magnificence and profusion. We’re knowledgeable that it had been raised from seeds collected. in some a part of New Holland by Mr. John Richardson; however Mr. Candy tells us that he cultivated it a number of years in the past, at Stockwell.
The final species, B.cunninghamii, got here from the Blue Mountains , west of Sydney and is equally showy. It was thought initially to be a variant of grandiflora earlier than it was recognised as a brand new species and named by John Lindley in 1845.
Whereas none of those may substitute a Christmas Tree they might substitute any potted vegetation or minimize flowers you would possibly select to have round the home right now of 12 months as a result of peak flowering happens round Christmas, therefore the frequent identify of Christmas bells. Their massive, distinctive flowers and lengthy vase life have good business potential for the minimize flower commerce and a small group of producers are already offering them to the Australian home market and investigating export markets.
For more information see Blandfordia in Historical past by Tony Cavanagh
Should you’re not impressed by Christmas Bells then how about Christmas Bushes? There are three competing Australian plant households given this identify. From Victoria [and elsewhere on the eastern side of the continent ] comes Prostanthera lasianthos, generally often known as the Victorian Christmas Bush or coranderrk. It too was recorded by French naturalist Jacques Labillardière and described in his 1806 Australian Flora Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.
It’s a member of the mint household and able to rising as a tree though usually it’s a big fragrant-leaved shrub that has tailored to lengthy durations of drought and warmth. Lengthy sprays of white or pale mauve flowers seem across the Christmas season.
Additional north is one other massive shrub/ small tree which is a rival for the Christmas Bush identify. That is Ceratopetalum gummiferum, which is named the New South Wales Christmas Bush, which has turn into a standard backyard plant as a result of its sepals flip brilliant red-pink at round Christmas time.
A 3rd Christmas Bush comes from Tasmania and elsewhere on the japanese and southern coasts. Formally often known as Bursaria spinosa it was first recorded by Antonio José Cavanilles in 1797 in his e book, Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum. It too flowers round Christmas time however might be a bit confused as a result of not solely is it the Tasmanian Christmas Bush however its additionally known as Australian blackthorn, mock orange, prickly field, prickly pine, spiny field, thorn field and whitethorn amongst many others.
And eventually when you actually don’t need a big shrub cluttering up your dwelling house how a couple of home plant you can cowl with tinsel? Two instantly spring to thoughts. There’s the Christmas Orchid Calanthe triplicata, first described in 1796, which is a terrestrial orchid widespread throughout Oceania, Asia, and the islands of japanese Africa. It kinds clumps and has darkish inexperienced corrugated leaves and as much as forty white flowers on a stem.
And, lastly, there’s Christmas Cactus or Schlumbergera which might be probably the most well-known and commercially accessible of all these Christmas-related vegetation. Of their native Brazil Schlumbergera are very uncactus-like rising not in arid deserts however on timber or rocks in habitats which might be usually shady with excessive humidity. There are a number of species that are straightforward to hybridise, with the primary identified cross by William Buckley in 1852 and often known as S.x buckleyi. That is the one considered the unique Christmas Cactus.
By the 1860s, a considerable variety of cultivars had been bred in a spread of colors and habits, which have been used as decorative vegetation in sizzling homes, the place they have been standard for his or her autumn and winter flowering. Nevertheless fashions change and by the early twentieth century, many of those early cultivars had been misplaced. Industrial curiosity grew once more from the Fifties and led to a brand new wave of breeding programmes aimed this time at producing vegetation able to surviving as houseplants with out the necessity for hothouse situations.
Though they’re typically seen as fairly sad-looking specimens on rest room home windows [well that’s where I first saw them in my grandparents house] there’s now a a lot wider vary of flower color and form together with the primary true yellow. There may be even a gaggle of gardeners devoted to rising and selling them – their pictures are nearly sufficient to transform somebody to loving them, particularly as they’re the simplest to develop of all of the Christmas named vegetation I’ve discovered. What they’d appear to be lined with tinsel and glitter I’m unsure …
however certainly something’s higher than one other Christmas tree!
As ordinary I’ve been wracking my brains for the previous few weeks attempting to think about one thing unique and garden-related to say about Christmas.
Over the past ten years I’ve tackled all types of issues Christmasy from Hellebores to Brussels Sprouts and Amaryllis to Ivy. I’ve even checked out synthetic Christmas flowers while studiously avoiding the apparent issues corresponding to Christmas timber . Sadly I believed this 12 months I may need to provide in, and for need of something higher lastly give in and have a look at firs, spruces and pines however in beginning my analysis I found one other seasonal topic which permits me to keep away from them for at the very least one other 12 months!
So when you don’t know a lot about Moodjar or Pōhutukawa then learn on…
and see when you can work out what would possibly they’ve in frequent with Bursaria, Blandfordia, Prostanthera, Ceratopetalum, or Calanthe?
The reply might be apparent when you’re a botanist, particularly when you’re a botanist from the opposite aspect of the globe, as they’re all plant households which have species that flower round Christmas time and have Christmas as a part of their on a regular basis non-Latin names. The primary three households all include timber and so theoretically at the very least able to standing in for the Norway spruce or its equal in your sitting room proper now. Most of those vegetation have been launched to Britain about 200 years in the past and went into cultivation, and even business manufacturing, in hothouses quickly after their arrival however they’re all comparatively unknown right here as we speak.
Nuytsia floribunda
Picture credit score: enjosmith/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
So let’s check out a few of them beginning with moodjar, which in botanical Latin is Nuytsia floribunda and which comes from south western Australia. It is a very uncommon tree on a number of counts. Initially, it’s the most important parasitic plant on the earth (or fairly hemiparasite ie it will get its water and vitamins from different vegetation but additionally photosynthesises on the similar time) Although it will probably develop as much as 10 metres tall considered one of its closest relations is mistletoe.
Subsequent, in keeping with Australian Geographic journal, when considered one of its roots meets the roots of one other plant it kinds a collar of tissue round it, like a swollen marriage ceremony ring, and a pointy edge or blade kinds inside that slices into the opposite root to achieve vitamin and water from it. The sting is so sharp it will probably additionally minimize by underground cables or human pores and skin. Not like many different parasitic vegetation Nuytsia is indiscriminate about host vegetation and can batten onto the roots of any inexperienced dwelling issues with every tree drawing on massive numbers of victims as much as 100 metres away.
In fact, the explanation that it’s included in as we speak’s weblog is due to its extraordinary clusters of flowers which kind enormous inflorescences, as much as a metre lengthy between late October and January. Early European colonists known as it the Fireplace Tree or the Flame Tree however it quickly grew to become the West Australian Christmas Tree,
The Noongar and Wadandi folks who’re the standard inhabitants of the world the place it grows contemplate it sacred, with every flower representing the spirit of an individual that has handed on, whereas its vibrant sundown colors remind folks that “our spirits journey throughout the nation, by the caves and over the ocean the place the solar units for our closing resting place.”
For extra on the standard significance of Nuytsia Floribunda see this put up from Anthropology from the Shed.
Nuytsia was first recorded on the coast of Esperance Bay in south west Australia, by Jacques Labillardière a naturalist on the 1790s expedition to the antipodes led by Bruni d’Entrecasteaux. This was early within the wars between Britain and revolutionary France and on their return journey residence all Labillardière’s work was captured by a British fleet. Fortunately he was a pal of Joseph Banks who, when he discovered, persuaded the British Authorities to return them “so that he might be able to publish his Observations on Pure Historical past in a whole method. By this her Majesty will lose an acquisition to her herbarium, which I very a lot want’d to see deposited there, however the nationwide character of Nice Britain will definitely acquire a lot credit score for holding a conduct in the direction of Science and Scientific males liberal within the highest diploma.” Labillardiere then revealed a preferred account of his journey in 1800 and adopted it up with the primary account of Australian vegetation Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen between 1804 and 1806. Nuytsia was named in honour of a 17thc Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts, and the primary scientific description was revealed in 1834 by George Don [more on him in this earlier post]
Flowers of the Flame-Tree and Yellow and Black Twiner, West Australia, Marianne North
Picture credit score: The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
In fact most early colonists weren’t taken with Nuytsia’s botany however in any financial worth it may need. They have been fairly upset as a result of the wooden is commercially ineffective and the gum ,whereas candy and utilized by the indigenous folks, has little worth.
Nevertheless Marianne North was smitten by it saying: “I shall always remember one plain we got here to, totally surrounded by the nuytsia or mistletoe timber, in a full blaze of bloom. It seemed like a bush-fire with out smoke.”
So what are the possibilities of it being a substitute Christmas tree right here within the west? Sadly fairly slim I feel as a result of though Nuytsia will develop readily from seed, it’s troublesome to transplant and it’s uncommon for it to outlive for greater than a 12 months or two outdoors of its pure vary.
Metrosideros excelsa ‘Lizard Lights’
Picture from Cross Frequent Nursery, probably the most southerly in Britain
Extra conventional Christmasy in color is the New Zealand tree pōhutukawa or ‘splashed by the ocean’ in Maori. In botanic Latin it’s the nearly as equally troublesome to pronounce Metrosideros excelsa. I used to be fortunate sufficient years in the past to see it in flower in its residence nation, and WOW was it spectacular, so no surprise it’s generally referred to outdoors New Zealand because the New Zealand Christmas tree.
It’s an evergreen within the myrtle household, normally rising by the coast of North Island, and infrequently in troublesome rocky positions. They produce an incredible present of crimson stamens, though there’s nice variation in kind and color with small numbers of naturally occurring pink, yellow and white variations, while hybridisation has elevated the color vary even additional.
Pōhutukawa is a crucial tree to Maori as it’s believed that spirits depart to the subsequent world through the sacred tree rising at Cape Reinga on the northernmost tip of North Island nation.
Sadly, there are a number of the reason why pōhutukawa most likely wouldn’t make good replacements for Christmas timber right here. Firstly they’re very vulnerable to frost. Meaning the one elements of Britain the place they stand an opportunity are the mildest and most sheltered elements of Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles and to show that time there are a gaggle rising at Tresco Abbey. Nevertheless there’s hope that new hybrids are proving extra resistant and there are even some now being provided by nurseries in Cornwall.
Rowan, Ellis, Flower and chicken work
Flower & Fowl work
Pōhutukawa additionally normally develop as multi-trunked spreading timber, nonetheless, since they’ll develop to 25m typically with extremely gnarled trunks and branches that may be festooned with bunches of hanging aerial roots. they’d take up an excessive amount of house-room , so may solely probably be a substitute for the one in Trafalgar Sq. ,
So if it’s not horrible sensible to think about hanging your baubles on Nuytsia or Metrosideros possibly you could possibly contemplate some smaller alternate options. Maybe Blandfordia would match the invoice? Often known as Christmas Bells in its native Australia there are 4 species, though they hybridise fairly simply and there are a number of naturally occurring crosses.
The identify Blandfordia was chosen in 1804 by Sir James Edward Smith, the founding father of the Linnaean Society, in honour of George Spencer Churchill, then the Marquis of Blandford who was a fantastic collector, gardener and spendthrift at his property at Whiteknights close to Studying. Smith had been despatched dried specimens collected round Sydney and named them B. nobilis. Seeds have been additionally being despatched over to London nurseries round about the identical time, though the primary flowers didn’t seem till 1818 at Whiteley and Brames’ nursery.
There was initially loads of confusion as a result of ,as European exploration of Australia proceeded, three extra species of have been found. The primary was distinct: Blandfordia punicea which is endemic to Tasmania the place it’s widespread. It was first named in 1805 however it wasn’t till 1842 {that a} plant flowered in England, on the Fulham nursery of Messrs. Osborne and Co.
Subsequent got here a bigger flowered variety which grows alongside the coast and tablelands of New South Wales and southern Queensland.
Gradual-growing with grass-like leaves and flower spikes having some ten to twenty bell-like flowers that fluctuate from yellow to crimson with yellow suggestions, it was collected and named B. grandiflora by Robert Brown in 1810.
Our drawing of this very good liliaceous plant was made at Mr. Colvill’s Nursery, in August. The plant was rising within the open border of a brand new conservatory, the place it flowered in nice magnificence and profusion. We’re knowledgeable that it had been raised from seeds collected. in some a part of New Holland by Mr. John Richardson; however Mr. Candy tells us that he cultivated it a number of years in the past, at Stockwell.
The final species, B.cunninghamii, got here from the Blue Mountains , west of Sydney and is equally showy. It was thought initially to be a variant of grandiflora earlier than it was recognised as a brand new species and named by John Lindley in 1845.
Whereas none of those may substitute a Christmas Tree they might substitute any potted vegetation or minimize flowers you would possibly select to have round the home right now of 12 months as a result of peak flowering happens round Christmas, therefore the frequent identify of Christmas bells. Their massive, distinctive flowers and lengthy vase life have good business potential for the minimize flower commerce and a small group of producers are already offering them to the Australian home market and investigating export markets.
For more information see Blandfordia in Historical past by Tony Cavanagh
Should you’re not impressed by Christmas Bells then how about Christmas Bushes? There are three competing Australian plant households given this identify. From Victoria [and elsewhere on the eastern side of the continent ] comes Prostanthera lasianthos, generally often known as the Victorian Christmas Bush or coranderrk. It too was recorded by French naturalist Jacques Labillardière and described in his 1806 Australian Flora Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.
It’s a member of the mint household and able to rising as a tree though usually it’s a big fragrant-leaved shrub that has tailored to lengthy durations of drought and warmth. Lengthy sprays of white or pale mauve flowers seem across the Christmas season.
Additional north is one other massive shrub/ small tree which is a rival for the Christmas Bush identify. That is Ceratopetalum gummiferum, which is named the New South Wales Christmas Bush, which has turn into a standard backyard plant as a result of its sepals flip brilliant red-pink at round Christmas time.
A 3rd Christmas Bush comes from Tasmania and elsewhere on the japanese and southern coasts. Formally often known as Bursaria spinosa it was first recorded by Antonio José Cavanilles in 1797 in his e book, Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum. It too flowers round Christmas time however might be a bit confused as a result of not solely is it the Tasmanian Christmas Bush however its additionally known as Australian blackthorn, mock orange, prickly field, prickly pine, spiny field, thorn field and whitethorn amongst many others.
And eventually when you actually don’t need a big shrub cluttering up your dwelling house how a couple of home plant you can cowl with tinsel? Two instantly spring to thoughts. There’s the Christmas Orchid Calanthe triplicata, first described in 1796, which is a terrestrial orchid widespread throughout Oceania, Asia, and the islands of japanese Africa. It kinds clumps and has darkish inexperienced corrugated leaves and as much as forty white flowers on a stem.
And, lastly, there’s Christmas Cactus or Schlumbergera which might be probably the most well-known and commercially accessible of all these Christmas-related vegetation. Of their native Brazil Schlumbergera are very uncactus-like rising not in arid deserts however on timber or rocks in habitats which might be usually shady with excessive humidity. There are a number of species that are straightforward to hybridise, with the primary identified cross by William Buckley in 1852 and often known as S.x buckleyi. That is the one considered the unique Christmas Cactus.
By the 1860s, a considerable variety of cultivars had been bred in a spread of colors and habits, which have been used as decorative vegetation in sizzling homes, the place they have been standard for his or her autumn and winter flowering. Nevertheless fashions change and by the early twentieth century, many of those early cultivars had been misplaced. Industrial curiosity grew once more from the Fifties and led to a brand new wave of breeding programmes aimed this time at producing vegetation able to surviving as houseplants with out the necessity for hothouse situations.
Though they’re typically seen as fairly sad-looking specimens on rest room home windows [well that’s where I first saw them in my grandparents house] there’s now a a lot wider vary of flower color and form together with the primary true yellow. There may be even a gaggle of gardeners devoted to rising and selling them – their pictures are nearly sufficient to transform somebody to loving them, particularly as they’re the simplest to develop of all of the Christmas named vegetation I’ve discovered. What they’d appear to be lined with tinsel and glitter I’m unsure …
however certainly something’s higher than one other Christmas tree!
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