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For the month of May 2010 I will be taking a look at 4 different varieties of the Australian Native Plant called the Adenanthos. The best of the lot, in my humble opinion, is actually native to the area I spent most of my childhood in, the Albany Woolly Bush, which I will be reviewing first.
Here is the first variety for May
Genus: Adenanthos
Species: sericeus
Common Name: Albany Woolly Bush or Silver Streak
Flower Colour: Red
Foliage Colour: Grey-Green
Growth Habit: Shrub 3m+
Flowering: Spring, Summer, Autumn
The Albany Woolly Bush is an absolutely fantastic Australian Native Plant. It is extremely hardy, surviving on very little water once established, and has the most beautiful grey-green leaves. It is also extremely soft leaved and will grow to a very large size if allowed.
Probably what the Albany Woolly Bush is best known for is it’s suitability to be used as an Australian Native Christmas Tree. Many people either grow themselves or buy an Albany Woolly Bush around Christmas time because it really suits this purpose well. The grey-green leaves give it a colour that almost ‘hints’ at being snow covered (which Australians still seem to like the idea of, even though many of us have never seen snow) and because of the size the Woolly Bush grows too, you really can get a decent sized Christmas tree.
A fellow blogging friend of mine, Stuart, has a really good review of this plant with some good reader questions about propagation. It can be found here.
Thanks to Lullitz Nursery for some of this information.
Is this plant frost hardy?
It is moderately frost tolerant. Should handle low sub-zero temps (like -3 to -5 max)
I had much success with this tree here in Perth, you could say too much success. 2 just fall over and were replaced. I currently have 3 growing, one in the middle of my back yard 4mt x 3mts about 4 high another next to a fence about 4 mts high but slender due to its position amongst trees, the other near a fence took for ever to get going its now about 2 mts high. I’ve had 5 pairs of New holland honey Eaters build nests with 4 of them raising youngs successfully over the past 2 years. One pair is currently with 2 young. My only warning is DO NOT plant near your house, It will become too big, needs an open full sun yard for best results. I have seen a house here in Perth that has grown a few in a line to create a very good hedge.
Lionel Perth WA
Hi I have a woolly bush in our garden that we planted about 5 years ago, it has grown quite large and has been extremely healthy until recently. It’s foliage has now become very dry and is browning off. We live in Adelaide by the coast. Can you perhaps give me some advice on how to rectify this. I have another woolly bush growing nearby perhaps 3 years old and is doing fine.
Rhonda West Beach SA.
I have this bush in my yard and I like it. i”d like to have it around the yard. How can I ‘breed’ it? will just cut-off and put in a bucket of water do? Or perhaps just stick a cutout into the soil?
M
I planted 4 silver Streak( adenanthos sericues) 2 years ago and lost 3 of them replaced them last year and this year i have lost all four. every thing else is thriving. they are partly shaded but get afternoon sun
4pm onwards
what are ideal conditions for them
Depends where you live. I’ve had a few people lately struggling with this native, which is odd because it is so very prevalent. I’ve grown many myself.
The conditons you suggested should be fine. It can be known to struggle a little in area’s which experience extreme heat, but then I’ve had them grow well in Perth and that gets quite a hot summer.
Perhaps that spot just doesn’t like them, may need to try something else?
I grow this plant on my farm in Queensland. I originally planted 250young plants in a variety of soils.
All grew well in soils from sandy loam to heavy clay until we had our summer wet season. All those in clay soil died within 1week of getting heavy rain. Some of these trees were 1.5metres tall and very healthy.
All the plants in well drained sandy soil are growing very well..
My conclusion is that as a member of the protaecea family they are subject to root rot (phytopthera) which proliferates in wet conditions and where drainage is poor. The remaining trees have now seen two major wet seasons and are growing well.
Can you please tell me how many cotyledons an Albany Wooly Bush has?
Can someone tell me if the Albany Woolly Bush would grow near the far north coast of NSW or Southport, Qld. My daughter and her friend like ours which is in Dromana, Vic. and growing very well so far. Although we’re on the Mornington Peninsula, our property is about halfway between the beach and the Arthurs Seat State park ridge and not too sandy or clay.