ESCALLONIAS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 2 November 1910, Page 41

ESCALLONIAS.

The members of the genus Escallonia are all natives of South America, most of them hailing from the uplands of Chili. It follows, therefore, that they are amongst the more tender subjects in this country, though all of them can be grown outdoors. Notwithstanding that they are all of a branching, shrubby habit in the open, yet they can be grown against a wall with advantage, and the cutting-back and training necessary to keep them within bounds renders them if anything, more floriferous than when they are grown in the open. Where (Eseallonias are grown in the shrubbery in conjunction with other vegetation care must be taken they are so placed that they get the benefit of sunshine, as they are essentially sun-ioving plants, and do not mind a certain amount of dryness at the root. The soil should be a rather poor one, aS a. rich medium promotes a sappy growth. By giving them plenty of sunshine and a poor soil, short-jointed well-ripened wood is produced which will be covered with flowers during the greater part of summer. Propagation is effected by means of cuttings of half-ripened wood, and inserted in sandy soil. Some of the 'best varieties are E. exoniensis. This is a hybrid of garden origin, raised in Messrs. Robert Veitch and Son’s nursery at Exeter. It forms a branching, free-growing shrub four feet or so high, clothed with small, ovate, deep-green leaves, -and bearing seini ; pendant pink-and-white flowers during t'ne greater part of the summer. This makes a splendid hedge, and is a very handsome shrub. E. maerantha.—This is a native of the island of Chiloe, and is one of the hardiest of the genus. It forms a large branching shrub 6 feet or more in height clothed with dark-green, ovate leaves.

shining as if varnished above, and marked with tiny dot* beneath. The edges are rather coarsely serrated. The flowers are borne in terminal, racemose peduncles, and are individually comparatively large. In colour they are a bright crimson-red. Even without flowers the glossy foliage of this plant would deserve a prominent place as an evergreen. E. montevidensis.—Thia is a strong growing species from Monte Video, reaching a height of 10 feet und<»r favourable circumstances. The branches are stout and sticky, and the leaves are oblong, obtuse, and nearly, or quite, entire on the margins. The white flowers are borne in large, branching, terminal corymbs,. It is a rare plant, though it was introduced as long ago as 183". E. Pendula.—A spreading variety, useful for covering unsightly places, or trellis fences, it grows rapidly, and stands any amount of cutting. E. Philippiana.—-This forms an upright, branching bush 4 feet to 6 feet in height, with a more slender and twiggy growth than the majority of the genus. The small, white flowers arc borne in denselycrowded terminal and lateral panicles. The leaves are small, spathulate in shape, of a rich green hue, and fin#y serrated on the edges. It is a native of Valdivia, and is one of the hardiest of the Eseallonias. E. punctata is a Chilian species, which forms a spreading shrub G feet or more in height, with deep-red flowers, borno in small, terminal elusters of from two to six flowers. The sessile, ovate leaves are dark-green and glossy on the upper surface, and paler and dotted with tiny glands beneath. E. rubra.—-This somewhat resembles E. punctata, differing chiefly in its having paler-coloured flowers, which last more or less for several -months. The leaves are obovate, serraied, and dotted beneath. It is a native of (hili.

E. revolut*.—Thl* »pecie», introduced from Chili in 1887, is a strong, vigorous plant, reaching 10 feet in height under favourable conditions. The flow era are white, and .borne in spreading, ter ininal panicles. The leaves are about an inch long, obovate in shape, serrated, and more or less pubescent.