Tips on how to keep away from Christmas Timber …
As traditional I’ve been wracking my brains for the previous couple of weeks attempting to consider one thing unique and garden-related to say about Christmas.
Over the past ten years I’ve tackled all kinds 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 reminiscent of Christmas bushes . Sadly I believed this 12 months I might need to present 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 no less than one other 12 months!
So for those who don’t know a lot about Moodjar or Pōhutukawa then learn on…
and see for those who can work out what would possibly they’ve in frequent with Bursaria, Blandfordia, Prostanthera, Ceratopetalum, or Calanthe?
The reply might be apparent for those who’re a botanist, particularly for those who’re a botanist from the opposite facet 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 bushes and so theoretically no less than 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 industrial manufacturing, in hothouses quickly after their arrival however they’re all comparatively unknown right here right now.
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. This can be a very uncommon tree on a number of counts. To begin with, it’s the biggest parasitic plant on the earth (or reasonably hemiparasite ie it will get its water and vitamins from different vegetation but additionally photosynthesises on the similar time) Even supposing it will probably develop as much as 10 metres tall certainly one of its closest relations is mistletoe.
Subsequent, based on Australian Geographic journal, when certainly one of its roots meets the roots of one other plant it types a collar of tissue round it, like a swollen marriage ceremony ring, and a pointy edge or blade types inside that slices into the opposite root to achieve diet and water from it. The sting is so sharp it will probably additionally lower by way of 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.
After all, the explanation that it’s included in right now’s weblog is due to its extraordinary clusters of flowers which type big inflorescences, as much as a metre lengthy between late October and January. Early European colonists referred to as it the Hearth 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 take into account 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 way of the caves and over the ocean the place the solar units for our last resting place.”
For extra on the standard significance of Nuytsia Floribunda see this publish 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 house all Labillardière’s work was captured by a British fleet. Fortunately he was a buddy of Joseph Banks who, when he discovered, persuaded the British Authorities to return them “so that he could possibly publish his Observations on Pure Historical past in an entire 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 printed 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 printed 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
After all most early colonists weren’t concerned about Nuytsia’s botany however in any financial worth it might need. They have been fairly disenchanted as a result of the wooden is commercially ineffective and the gum ,whereas candy and utilized by the indigenous folks, has little worth.
Nonetheless Marianne North was obsessed with it saying: “I shall always remember one plain we got here to, fully surrounded by the nuytsia or mistletoe bushes, in a full blaze of bloom. It seemed like a bush-fire with out smoke.”
So what are the probabilities 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 tough 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 tough to pronounce Metrosideros excelsa. I used to be fortunate sufficient years in the past to see it in flower in its house nation, and WOW was it spectacular, so no marvel it’s generally referred to outdoors New Zealand because the New Zealand Christmas tree.
It’s an evergreen within the myrtle household, often rising by the coast of North Island, and sometimes in tough rocky positions. They produce an incredible present of purple stamens, though there’s nice variation in type 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 following world through the sacred tree rising at Cape Reinga on the northernmost tip of North Island nation.
Sadly, there are a number of explanation why pōhutukawa most likely wouldn’t make good replacements for Christmas bushes right here. Firstly they’re very vulnerable to frost. Meaning the one components of Britain the place they stand an opportunity are the mildest and most sheltered components of Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles and to show that time there are a bunch rising at Tresco Abbey. Nonetheless there’s hope that new hybrids are proving extra resistant and there are even some now being supplied by nurseries in Cornwall.
Rowan, Ellis, Flower and chicken work
Flower & Fowl work
Pōhutukawa additionally often develop as multi-trunked spreading bushes, nonetheless, since they will develop to 25m usually 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 consider hanging your baubles on Nuytsia or Metrosideros possibly you may take into account some smaller options. Maybe Blandfordia would match the invoice? Generally 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 an incredible 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 nevertheless 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 sort 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 purple with yellow ideas, it was collected and named B. grandiflora by Robert Brown in 1810.
Our drawing of this excellent 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 change a Christmas Tree they may change any potted vegetation or lower 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 industrial potential for the lower 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
If you happen to’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 referred to 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 called the New South Wales Christmas Bush, which has turn out to be a fashionable backyard plant as a result of its sepals flip vibrant red-pink at round Christmas time.
A 3rd Christmas Bush comes from Tasmania and elsewhere on the japanese and southern coasts. Formally referred to 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 referred to as Australian blackthorn, mock orange, prickly field, prickly pine, spiny field, thorn field and whitethorn amongst many others.
And eventually for those who actually don’t need a big shrub cluttering up your dwelling area how a couple of home plant that you may 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 types 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 out there of all these Christmas-related vegetation. Of their native Brazil Schlumbergera are very uncactus-like rising not in arid deserts however on bushes or rocks in habitats which can be usually shady with excessive humidity. There are a number of species that are simple to hybridise, with the primary identified cross by William Buckley in 1852 and referred to 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 fashionable for his or her autumn and winter flowering. Nonetheless fashions change and by the early twentieth century, many of those early cultivars had been misplaced. Business 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 usually seen as reasonably sad-looking specimens on toilet 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’s even a bunch of gardeners devoted to rising and selling them – their photographs 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 seem like coated with tinsel and glitter I’m unsure …
however certainly something’s higher than one other Christmas tree!
As traditional I’ve been wracking my brains for the previous couple of weeks attempting to consider one thing unique and garden-related to say about Christmas.
Over the past ten years I’ve tackled all kinds 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 reminiscent of Christmas bushes . Sadly I believed this 12 months I might need to present 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 no less than one other 12 months!
So for those who don’t know a lot about Moodjar or Pōhutukawa then learn on…
and see for those who can work out what would possibly they’ve in frequent with Bursaria, Blandfordia, Prostanthera, Ceratopetalum, or Calanthe?
The reply might be apparent for those who’re a botanist, particularly for those who’re a botanist from the opposite facet 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 bushes and so theoretically no less than 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 industrial manufacturing, in hothouses quickly after their arrival however they’re all comparatively unknown right here right now.
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. This can be a very uncommon tree on a number of counts. To begin with, it’s the biggest parasitic plant on the earth (or reasonably hemiparasite ie it will get its water and vitamins from different vegetation but additionally photosynthesises on the similar time) Even supposing it will probably develop as much as 10 metres tall certainly one of its closest relations is mistletoe.
Subsequent, based on Australian Geographic journal, when certainly one of its roots meets the roots of one other plant it types a collar of tissue round it, like a swollen marriage ceremony ring, and a pointy edge or blade types inside that slices into the opposite root to achieve diet and water from it. The sting is so sharp it will probably additionally lower by way of 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.
After all, the explanation that it’s included in right now’s weblog is due to its extraordinary clusters of flowers which type big inflorescences, as much as a metre lengthy between late October and January. Early European colonists referred to as it the Hearth 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 take into account 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 way of the caves and over the ocean the place the solar units for our last resting place.”
For extra on the standard significance of Nuytsia Floribunda see this publish 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 house all Labillardière’s work was captured by a British fleet. Fortunately he was a buddy of Joseph Banks who, when he discovered, persuaded the British Authorities to return them “so that he could possibly publish his Observations on Pure Historical past in an entire 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 printed 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 printed 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
After all most early colonists weren’t concerned about Nuytsia’s botany however in any financial worth it might need. They have been fairly disenchanted as a result of the wooden is commercially ineffective and the gum ,whereas candy and utilized by the indigenous folks, has little worth.
Nonetheless Marianne North was obsessed with it saying: “I shall always remember one plain we got here to, fully surrounded by the nuytsia or mistletoe bushes, in a full blaze of bloom. It seemed like a bush-fire with out smoke.”
So what are the probabilities 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 tough 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 tough to pronounce Metrosideros excelsa. I used to be fortunate sufficient years in the past to see it in flower in its house nation, and WOW was it spectacular, so no marvel it’s generally referred to outdoors New Zealand because the New Zealand Christmas tree.
It’s an evergreen within the myrtle household, often rising by the coast of North Island, and sometimes in tough rocky positions. They produce an incredible present of purple stamens, though there’s nice variation in type 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 following world through the sacred tree rising at Cape Reinga on the northernmost tip of North Island nation.
Sadly, there are a number of explanation why pōhutukawa most likely wouldn’t make good replacements for Christmas bushes right here. Firstly they’re very vulnerable to frost. Meaning the one components of Britain the place they stand an opportunity are the mildest and most sheltered components of Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles and to show that time there are a bunch rising at Tresco Abbey. Nonetheless there’s hope that new hybrids are proving extra resistant and there are even some now being supplied by nurseries in Cornwall.
Rowan, Ellis, Flower and chicken work
Flower & Fowl work
Pōhutukawa additionally often develop as multi-trunked spreading bushes, nonetheless, since they will develop to 25m usually 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 consider hanging your baubles on Nuytsia or Metrosideros possibly you may take into account some smaller options. Maybe Blandfordia would match the invoice? Generally 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 an incredible 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 nevertheless 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 sort 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 purple with yellow ideas, it was collected and named B. grandiflora by Robert Brown in 1810.
Our drawing of this excellent 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 change a Christmas Tree they may change any potted vegetation or lower 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 industrial potential for the lower 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
If you happen to’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 referred to 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 called the New South Wales Christmas Bush, which has turn out to be a fashionable backyard plant as a result of its sepals flip vibrant red-pink at round Christmas time.
A 3rd Christmas Bush comes from Tasmania and elsewhere on the japanese and southern coasts. Formally referred to 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 referred to as Australian blackthorn, mock orange, prickly field, prickly pine, spiny field, thorn field and whitethorn amongst many others.
And eventually for those who actually don’t need a big shrub cluttering up your dwelling area how a couple of home plant that you may 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 types 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 out there of all these Christmas-related vegetation. Of their native Brazil Schlumbergera are very uncactus-like rising not in arid deserts however on bushes or rocks in habitats which can be usually shady with excessive humidity. There are a number of species that are simple to hybridise, with the primary identified cross by William Buckley in 1852 and referred to 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 fashionable for his or her autumn and winter flowering. Nonetheless fashions change and by the early twentieth century, many of those early cultivars had been misplaced. Business 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 usually seen as reasonably sad-looking specimens on toilet 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’s even a bunch of gardeners devoted to rising and selling them – their photographs 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 seem like coated with tinsel and glitter I’m unsure …
however certainly something’s higher than one other Christmas tree!
Related Posts
Leave a Reply
POPULAR NEWS
