Aromatic African

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 14

Aromatic African

Proteas and leucodendrons are almost spontaneously associated with South Africa, as well as with long lasting and attractive cut flowers. It is doubtful whether Adenandras would provoke a similar response. Although comparatively less significant from a florist’s stand point, and certainly less spectacular as garden shrubs, the Adenandras deserve to be better known and appreciated than they are. However only two of the forty-odd species have ever been noted in catalogues and gardens here, and of these only one is at all generally available. They have the common collective name of China Flower, an allusion to the general appearance of the general appearance of their flat-when-open five petalled flowers.

The most usually obtained species is A.uniflora, a much-branched, somewhat twiggy, white flowered plant the petals of which have a rose coloured streak running down their centres. This shrub grows about a

metre in height and nearly as much across. It is inclined to be a little brittle. Adenandra fragrans must be chased up as it is, for unapparent reason(s), not readily obtainable. It is a smaller growing and more bushy plant with very pleasantly aromatic foliage which is also lighter in colour and broader of leaf; the flowers are pink. A position in sun, good drainage and average-to-better-class soil which is moisture-retentive is desirable to get the best from these shrubs. Both species are reasonably frost tolerant, with A. uniflora the hardier of the two.