Epacris Study Group

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ASSOCIATION OF SOCIETIES FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS Inc. EPACRIS STUDY GROUP

Group Leader: Gwen Elliot, P.O. Box 655 Heathmont Vic. 3135 NEWSLETTER No. XS (ISSN 103 8-6017) Qctaber zaQ4

Greetings as once again we begin to enjoy the longer days of spring-summer and the encouragement this provides for many of our flowering plants. Despite the generally dry conditions many Epacris species are putting on outstanding floral displays.

How are you going with your recording of the flowering times of Epacris impressa in your garden, as well as in nearby bushland or in other areas as you travel within Australia? It really is quite an exciting project because together we, as Study Group members, can make a real contribution to the overall understanding of this species, adding to the knowledge and research of botanists who look in detail at the features of the plant under the microscope and in its natural habitat. It iis a species which occurs both atsea-level and at higher altitudes. How are the flowering times affected when highland plants are cultivated at lower altitudes? Are flowering times different when plants fiom New South Wales for example are gvown much further south in soulhern Victoria or Tasmania ? Epacris impressu seems like an excellent species for us to research in this way. If our project is successful we may perhaps be able to continue with looking at the flowering times of other Epacris which are relatively common in cultivation. In case you have misplaced the recording sheet from our October 2003 Newsletter, another is included in this issue. Maybe you wilZ wish to keep one copy for your own records arryway, sending the other back for our Study Group project. We are almost at the end of the main flowering period for Epacris lmpressu now. Some members have made good records of when plants first came into flower, but please don't stop now. Almost certainly same forms will continue much longer than others, and it is equally important to note how they perForm at the end of their flowering period.

Many thanks to all who have contributed towards this Study Group NEWStEll€R. Particular thanks to Dawn Barr for a great item detailing results in propagating and growing Epacris which she and her husband Lyn have experienced in their garden in East Gippsland Vic. It is certainly a lovely part of the world and Rodger and I were delighted to stay with Dawn and Lyn during a recent visit to 6airnsdale APS group. Items such as this are really great to be able to include in our Newsletters. Please consider putting pen to paper with your own experiences, as we have so much to learn from each other, through successes and also failures. If you have an Epacris problem, why not ask other members for comment via our Newsletters?

Two gardens of EPACRIS STUDY GROUP members are included in this year's ~ustralia'sOpen Garden Scheme. The gardens of Bill Er Doris Gunn and Margaret Guenxel, both in tochard Drive, Ocean Grove Victoria will be open on the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd, from loam to 4pm on both days. Visitors will certainly be inspired and encouraged by the beauty and diversity of these gardens in an area of salt-laden winds and alkaline soils which provide a challenge to all who garden in such regions. Participation in Australia's Open Garden Scheme is an excellent means of introducing a wide range of gardeners to the beauty and diversily of Australian plants, induding of course Epacris species. Congratulations to Bill, Doris and Margaret on being accepted into the list of gardens open this year. If you would like further infomation on participation in the scheme in future years you could contact Helen Kennedy, Vice-President of A.P.S. Victoria, and a selector with Australia's Open Garden Scheme, at 13 Faiwiew Av., Wheelers Hill 3150.

1 Zrustypu are enjaying a great springtime in your gardens, with good rains to sustain the plants through the coming summer. If the membership date on your address label is in arrears your renewal would he appreciated as will any snippets or larger items for our next Newsletter in March 2005.

In the meantime, warm greetings and best wishes for an enjoyable festive season,

/> 4 News U Notes from Members

From Tasmania George Wade wrote in autumn saying how dry it has been during recent months, and plants such as Epacris longiflora which he has enjoyed in his garden for many years have really shown signs of stress, and even though they are still alive they may need replacement. Unfortunately this situation is not confined to just Tasmania, as several other regions of Australia have alsy been extremely dry. Epacris have certainly suffered, as have other native and non-native species, including many well- established large trees, both in their natural habitat and in cultivation. If you have any thoughts on helping our plants to cope with dry conditions these would be very welcome for our Study Group newsletters.

Barbara Henderson from Queensland is leader of the Wallam Er Coastal Heathland Study Group and an ongoing concern is the loss of native heathland due to commercial and residential developments in coastal regions of Queensland. Barbara currently has 3 plants of the local Epacris pulchella in various areas of her garden, all 'rescued' from areas of peaty sand. All are doing well, despite being in situations quite different from their coastal heathland habitat, and are rarely without a flower. They are on a slight slope in shaly loam and while two plants receive only a few hours of sun each day the third is facing west. Further details on E. pulchella can be found in the Profile Page of our Sept. 2001 Newsletter

Pat MacDonald has been recording the flowering times of Epacris impressa in her Langwarrin, Vic. garden and as well as in natural bushland on their property. It is interesting to note that some difference occurred - with the white-flowered 'bushland' plants flowering first. We may have anticipated that garden grown plants could be earlier, due to increased nutrients or water - but there are so many variables aren't there. Soil types on properties can vary considerably, as can aspects such as sun, shade and the proximity of other plant root systems. There is also the aspect of presence or lack of mycorrhiza in the soils. Well done Pat. Please keep up your good work. We certainly look forward to receiving lots of reports from Study Group members within the coming months and years, and hopefully our combined information may lead to some very fascinating and informative observations.

'Eucryphia' the Newsletter of the Australian Plants Society Tasmania, January 2004 issue included a report of activities from the Kingborough Group which included the comment 'As the weather has at last warmed we were especially interested to hear of different propagating methods Kay Geeves told of her success using self-sealing plastic bags. She showed a flourishing Epacris as evidence of her results. ' A follow-up note was sent to Kay and she has very kindly passed on the following information -

'My son, Mark teaches Horticulture at TAFE and taught me this method. It is useful forpeople who do not have bottom heat and is simple and inexpensive. I've found it works well for Epacridaceae species. The bags need to be relatively strong and I've used Glad or Hercules bags. These are the snap-lock or zipper zeal type and are 17 cm x 19 cm approx. Use an open cutting mix and fill bag tojust under half full and insert small tip cuttings. (Treat with hormone mixture or honey.) Do not wateev, but seal bag to within 5-6 cm. Blow into the bag and then seal fully to keep the air in. Place in a sheltered place such as a potting shed out of the sun. You need to check they do not dry out. When they do need moisture simply use an atomizer and spray into bag, being careful to blow more air in and reseal as previously. If overwet the material will rot

Many th,anks to Kay, for this information, and to Mark Geeves also. It is a simple, but obviously successful method which I'm sure many of our Study Group members will be keen to try. Success with propagation of Epacris from seed Jeff Irons has sent an email from Wirral, England to let us know that he has had good germination of Epacris impressa seeds which were sent to him and that he has distributed some of the plants through the local group of the Australasian Plants Society there. Unfottunately to date he has had 'no joy' with seed of Woollsia pungens. For those who missed Jeffs article in Newsletter No. 8, extracts from that item are reprinted below: Growing Ericaceae fi Epacridaceae plants from seed The Ericaceae is one of the most frequently seen plant families in northern hemisphere gardens. Consequently it is not at all surprising that som; British gardeners are equally en'thusiastic about the Epacridaceae. However both plants and seed are almost impossible to obtain. If seed is found, it is unlikely to germinate. I believe that, in at least some instances, the poor germination results from incowect handling at the collection stage. Europeans know that many Ericaceae must be kept moist when coRected, and stored in cool and moist conditions. Heathers, for example, are placed in a bag containing a piece of moist sponge as soon as they are collected. Their seed is stored in conditions which are both cool and moist. Epacrids &en graw in ad,moist places. Their ripe seed is shed into a moist atmosphere, and stays there until germination occurs. It seems reasonable to assume that if this seed is allowed to dry out, it is either killed or becomes deeply dormant. Perhaps their germination would be improved if they are treated in the same manner as Heather seed. Believing that many fine seeds need light before they will germinate I sow them on the surface of my seed compost, and cover with a thin layer of Perlite. It makes a deeper layer than sand, y& allows light through. However for Epacridaceae and Ericaceae the top 2 an of compost is replaced by sphagnum which has been dried, rubbed and sieved. The sphagnum is available from rnlrny garden centres, which sell it for use as the lining for hanging baskets. Livenvo* are a pest: on peat, but they do not grow on sphagnum, which will stay dean for several years, My seed pots are placed on top of a bed of moist grit. Capillary action ensures that the compost surface is always moist. Since my pots are in a greenhouse it is sometimes necessary to cover them with a loosely laid sheet or reflective film. This prevents the compost surfice from drying out under powerful sun. Recently I've tried a new technique with some success. Noticing how plants grow in mass on fallen trees or on paths, I allowed moss to grow on a pot uf compost, then sowed Dymophila cyanocarpa (Luzuriaceae) in the moss. Previous attempts to germinate this forest floor plant had failed. I thought that in order for it to germinate the seed needs to be in what is effectively air almost saturated with water vapour. The idea worked, and I now have two pots of seedlings. The next step, if I can get seed, is to try it with Epacris.. . . . Jeff Irons, Wirral, England

We now would like to know the method you used Jeff in achieving your success with the Epacris impressa seed. We look forward to hearing from you again. Many thanks for your ongoing contributions to the EPACRIS STUDY GROUP.

Epacris featured 3n &YourGarden9 SHagazSne What a deli~htit was to see the 2-pa~ecolour article on Epacris in the June 2004 issue of Your Garden magazine. cpacris was selected as lower of the Month' and a full page was devoted to a delightful botanical illustration of a pink-flowered Epacris impressa by Diana Bilderbeck-Frost. The accompanying article by Roger Mann included an enthusiastic coverage of Epacris impressa, E. longiflora, E. obtusifolia, E. pulchella and E. reclinata. Roger mentioned the cultivation of Epacris in England 150 years ago and the fact that part of their popularity was that the dead flowers are not retained on the bushes, as is the case with many of the Erica species from the northern hemisphere. For cultivation in containers he suggested a mix with half quantity each of commercial potting mix and sharp sand. Sadly Your Garden will no longer be a monthly publication in future, but we are glad that this Epacris page was included before the change in publication arrangements.

Genus Search = gram March 2004 Newsletter Due to lack d space in this Newsletter tlie solution to the GENUS SEARCH puzzle from our last Epacris Study Gr'oup ~ehsletterhas been carried-over to the next issue. For those hagerly awaiting the solution, the letters NOT contained in the plant names could be re-arranted to spell the sentence Australian flova is great for us. Page 4 Trials and Tribulations from Dawn O Lyn Barr, Swan Reach, East Gippsland Vic. We have been trying to grow Epacrisfor a few years now. We first tried cuttings to no avail and then I tried to collect seed with equal lack of success. We talked to local members of Bairnsdale Australian Plant Society and they all agreed they were hard to grow, but here in East Gippsland, every time the council grades the roadside you can be sure in 12 months time there will be a patch of Epacris irnpressa thriving in hard packed clay soil. We both love this lovely native plant and Lyn was determined to persevere. We decided to join the Epacris Study Group and learn what others were doing. The Australian Plants magazine had a whole section on the family and so many looked beautiful but the thought of trying to grow them was daunting. We read in the Study Group newsletter about Mycorrhizal association so the next time we took cuttings Lyn also took a sample of soil from near the plant and mixed it with the commercial propagating mix. And Yes! It was a better result. Lyn had built a propagating box from treated pine, about 2 ft. by 4 R. (60cm x 120 cm), higher at the back and with a Perspex lid to allow light and to collect the warmth of the sun in the winter. A bed of sand kept moist allowed for some humidity in the box and onto this he placed his pots of cuttings with about 6 cuttings in each pot. The box faces east and gets morning sun but is shaded in the after- noon. When the days were very hot the lid could be raised for ventilation and cooling and in extreme heat he could also place a shadecloth cover over the lid. More recently he has found that a large plastic box covered with a glass sheet is easier to move around and he can take the glass off when the weather gets too hot. Recent cuttings of E. impressa (bright red) from the Mallacoota area are doing well in this environment. So far so good! In time the cuttings that survived, about 50/50, started to send out new growth above ground but no evidence of roots out the bottom of the pots. He gave them a bit more time to be sure they had struck then decided to pot them out. Those of you who are not new chums will realise his mistake. These plants have such fine hair-like roots they definitely do not appreciate being disturbed. Only about 10%survived the potting on and the thought of eventually getting them into the ground was daunting. How does one get such a delicate plant out of a tube without damage? Not easily. So back to the drawing boards and a new idea. Next time around plant the cuttings in individual polystyrene cups (with drainage holes). Cut down the side of the cup and remove the bottom before planting out. No potting up. The plant, when it is growing surely, can be planted directly into the garden; much less disturbance at every stage. It has taken at least 4 years to get to the stage where Lyn is confident that he can strike cuttings with a now 85%success rate. He has learned that the new growth tips after flowering are the best to strike, he does not need to strip the leaves at the base of the cutting, he uses a weak liquid hormone dip and a commercial propagating mix plus some 'from site' soil. The June 2001 edition of Australian Plants suggested a sand mix but Lyn found this was not successful. Some cuttings struck but they took a long time to grow and seemed sickly compared with those grown in the soil and propagating mix medium. Epacris longiflora seems easiest. Epacris impressa from our area is easier now he has mastered some technique. But then what is happening in the garden ? Raised beds, well drained, gravel added to garden loam to assist drainage, leaf litter mulch to prevent drying out but who can plan for a three-year drought. We are lucky to have town water for without it we would have lost the lot just when we were feeling proud of Lyn's efforts. Now we are wondering if the bed is too well drained and perhaps we should have put some clay in it. But in the forest the plants have survived without town water in thick leaf litter from the eucalypts. Have we pampered ours too much? Our area of East Gippsland has still not had decent rair~and here it is September. The Epacrisflowered in August; several different colours of E. impressa and E. longiflora but then they started to die back from the tips and we have lost a disappointing number just when they were starting to gain a respectable size. Our local nursery, with a long time APS member at the helm, is now advising everyone to use water crystals when planting new plants to create a water source when it is dry. Can anyone advise yes or no when it comes to water crystals for Epacris ? Oh well! Back to the drawing boards again. Out in the bush they compete with other plants for moisture and nourishment. Perhaps ours need some competition from other low growing plants that in themselves might provide support for the root runs of the Epacris. We shall keep trying. Next step is to master seed collection. To conclude Dawn was out around Mt. Elizabeth, north-east of Bairnsdale, on a field trip second week in September with her APS group and was fortunate enough to see 3 species of Leucopogon - L. ericoides, L. gelitus and L. biflora. L. gelitus was sharing a hillside with Boronia ledifolia. For at least a kilometre this rpcky and shale covered hillside was a mass of pink interspersed with the white Leucopogon. A wonderful sight and pleasing to hear from the newly appointed Ranger that this area has been declared a State Reserve and will not now be subject to logging.

Many thanks to Dawn and to Lyn for this great report. G.E. Page 5

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIETIES FOR GROWING AUSTRAUAN PLANTS Inc. EPACRIS STUDY GROUP Plant profile

EpacrII calvertlann var. ca1vertSana F. ~uell. Var. V~TSPCO~Q~Maiden Er E.Betche calvertiana = after Mrs. J. S. Calvert, 19th-century botanical artist and collector Distribution - New South Wales

Epacris calvertiana is an eye-catching species fkom the Comboylle Plateau to Pigeon House Mountain and west to Berrima in NSW. There are two distinct forms. The var. calvertiana has white to creamy green flowers which are produced mainly during August - December. while the var. vevsicoior has slightly larger, pink to reddish flowers tipped with white and an earlier flowering period which is mainly during June - October. E calwrtiana grows as a somewhat erect shrub of about 1 - 2 dm tall with idgreen leaves to 2 an long. The flowers are to aP out 1.5 m long and are well dis layed along the branchlds The anthers are contained wit\ in the floral tube. The fruit is a small capsule to 3.5 mm long, which splits to release the fine seeds.

Natural habitat - Both varieties of E. calvertiana occur in sandstone areas. They are found mainly in protected situations which are moist yet very well-drained.

Illustration - O Bill Gunn

Photographs O Rodger Elliot

Epacris ca/vet-tiana var. versico/or Page - 6 Epacrjs cat vertiana F. Muell.

Cultivation Epacris calvertiana is not widely grown, although plants adapt well to cultivation and are certainly worthy of greater recognition. he^ appreciatesoke and do well in positions with filtered sun or shade for part of the day. Plants can also be grown successfully in containers. Pruning encourages bushy growth and healthy vigour.

Propa~atfon Epacris calvertiana can be successfully propagated from cuttings, using barely firm young growth. Vegetative propagation is recommended to obtain plants of desired flower colour. Seed is not known to be commercially available. It is worth trying seed collected from garden plants, although germination results may not be high. For further information see 'Propagation of Epacrisfrom Seed' - Newsletter 7, March 1999

Epacris calvertiana was named by Ferdinand von Mueller, and Epacris calvertiana var. versicolor was named by Joseph Maiden and Ernest Betche.

Baron Sir Ferdinand Jakob Heinrich von bineller K.C.M.G., Ph.D., F.R.S. was born in Germany on 30 June 1825 and died in Melbourne on 10th Oct 1896. He was the most significant . ., Australian botanist of the 19th-century, dedicating his whole life . :..: to his botanical pursuits. He studied botany in Germany then in I 1847 was advised to move to a warmer climate for health reasons and travelled with his two sisters to Australia. In 1853 he was appointed as the first Government Botanist of Victoria. He travelled widely throughout Australia, often under difficult conditions, and on one trip alone he collected nearly 800 species new to science. In 1857 he was appointed Director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, a position he held until 1873. He wrote extensively including over 800 botanical papers, and is noted for his letter writing, being estimated to have often written over 3000 letters in one year. I He was widely decorated for his work and has been commemorated in numerous awards, in Australian postage stamps and in the naming I of a large number of plants including the genera of Muellera and Muellerina. Within the genus of Epacris he named Epacris calvertiana and . , Epacris muelleri was named in his honour by Otto Wilhelm Sonder. .. ,: , I .. . .,: 5' . .. . ,,.: , ,. . . . , :, ;., ',#,.-.,.:.

Joseph Henry Maiden 1.5.0, F.LS., F.R.S. was born in England in 1859 and studied science at the University of London. He was unable to complete his course due to poor health and a long sea-voyage was recommended. He arrived in New South Wales in 1880. He was appointed first Curator of the Technological Museum, Sydney and in 1896 was appointed Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Gardens. When Maiden accepted this position the State had no herbarium, museum or library of botanical publications. He quickly set to work to remedy this situation and became one of the great botanists in the study of Australian plants. J. H. Maiden retired in 1924 and died during the following year. Ernest Betche was born in Germany in 1851. He came to Australia in 1881 and joined the Botanic Gardens, Sydney as a collector. In 1897 he became a botanical assistant and held this position until his death in 1913. Ernest Betche had an extensive knowledge of the flora of New South Wales and was joint author with Maiden of the Census of New South Wales Plants (1916).

Space for additional notes on Epacris calvertiana - Specla1 EPACRIS STUDY GROW Prsaect Epacrls Pmp~essaselectlams - and their f lowerlng tlmes

This page is provided to assist in the recording offlowering times ofthe various selections oF Epacris impressa currently being grown.

It is suggested that a solid line be used to indicate good flowering, and a dotted line when plants are coming into flower, finishing flowering, or just producing odd blooms.

Illustration by Bill Gunn

E. impressa Flower JFMAM JJASOND Selection col our ...... Any extra comments

E. impressa Flower JFMAM J JASOND Selection colour .....,...... ,*....*...,.....~...,,,...,.*..,...**...,...... Any extra comments

E. impressa Flower JF-MAMJJASOND Selection colour ...... Any extra comments

E. impressa Flower JFMAMJJASOND Selection colour ...... Any extra comments