proteas With Altitude Annual Report January – December 2019 Robbie Blackhall-Miles and Ben Ram

Abstract This report aims to show how the ‘ With Altitude’ project progressed during 2019. It is an opportunity to review the ongoing process of setting up the nursery site, analyse data gathered about the species grown and set aims for the year ahead.

Background ‘proteas With Altitude’ is an ongoing research project studying the horticulture of in the UK. In 2015, an initial expedition was undertaken to study in-situ and collect seeds of Proteaceae, growing at high altitude, in the of . One hundred and fifteen separate observations covering fifty-five distinct species were made, of which thirty species were collected as seed. A further collecting trip was made during December 2017 with 43 species being collected as seed, of which 16 were new to the project and 6 new to cultivation, and plants and cuttings of some species being imported under phytosanitary certificate. A full report detailing progress up to the beginning of 2019 can be found in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 annual reports. This report will discuss the period between January 2019 – December 2019.

Nursery Infrastructure Drip irrigation to 1L pots has worked well but watering of large potted plants is better by hand (with a watering can or hose), due to lack of water pressure. As plants in 1L pots have been potted up into 2L pots, some of the drip irrigation lines needed adjusting to accommodate these taller pots; there is currently capacity to do more of this. A 1000L water storage tank has been installed to collect rainwater from one side of the roof of the large polytunnel. This has been used for siphoning into troughs which are used to fill watering cans with. Purchasing a hose adapter for this water storage tank is planned for 2020. Since the cheap and unreliable weather station at the nursery broke, no rainfall has been recorded there and only winter minimum temperatures have been recorded. A more reliable way of recording weather data at the nursery is needed, using a more robust weather station. The weather station we have been able to afford in the past is the Clime Met CM2000, which costs £150. This is a useful weather station as it records data wirelessly and the data is easy to extract, also being connected to the internet allows viewing of current and past weather. It relies on batteries, however, which run out without warning and result in no data being recorded from that point on. Labelling of plants that have either been potted into large terracotta pots or into the ground has been improved. Data on these labels is now printed and includes collection number, species, collection location and altitude, see photo on right. Germination Efforts to germinate seed in 2019 were concentrated on species which have previously proven difficult. This meant that of the 36 seed batches sown, only 10 batches had any germination. Failures repens and Protea amplexicaulis again failed to germinate, even though the same method was used which has been successful with other members of this genus. Whether the issue was with seed viability or germination method remains to be seen, although the former is suspected. singulare also failed to germinate again. This species only grows on very high summits (approx. 2000m) and may need a cold stratification. No germination of , or was again a disappointment. Although Protea recondita had a 40% germination rate, all the seedlings died, which may have been due to damping off. Successes Protea scabriuscula – A 54% germination rate was achieved. This was done by soaking seed in smoke-disk water for 24 hours and exposing sown seed to a day/night temperature swing of 5°C/20°C. A 28% seedling mortality rate means that 5 plants of this species now join the living collections. This is enough plants for trialling in the ground as well as growing in a large pot. This also completes the group of 4 species of high altitude ‘Snow Proteas’ (Paracynaroides) which are grown at the nursery. The 5th species of this group, Protea lorea, grows at lower altitude but we will be germinating this species in 2020.

Leucadendron arcuatum – A 90% germination rate was achieved. This was done by soaking seed in smoke disk water for 24 hours and then GA3 for 36 hours, before exposing sown seed to a day/night temperature swing of 5°C/20°C. A seedling mortality rate of 56% means that only 4 plants remain. The mortality was due to caterpillar damage. It is hoped that this sprawling, mountain growing ‘Arid Conebush’ will do well in a sunny, well-drained rockery once it is large enough to be planted out.

Aulax cancellata – A 90% germination rate and only one death means that 8 plants of this species are doing well in 1L pots. Germination was achieved by soaking seed in smoke-disk water for 24 hours and exposing sown seed to a day/night temperature swing of 5°C/20°C.

Leucospermum winteri – A 35% germination rate was achieved. This was done by first removing the outer two seeds coats, then subjecting the seeds to a dry heat of 45°C for 15 minutes before immediately immersing into 18°C water to cause micro-fractures in the remaining seed coat. The seed was then soaked in smoke water for 24 hours and a further 24 hours in GA3, before exposing sown seed to a day/night temperature swing of 5°C/20°C. A seedling mortality rate of 14% means that 6 plants of this species can be trialled at the nursery. This is very exciting as even though the seed was collected at only 466m, the altitudinal range of this species goes up to 1300m, so may have some genetic cold tolerance. erubescens – Although this is species does not grow much above 600m, having been collected on the Robinson Pass, which does occasionally get cold, it is hoped that the one seedling which germinated will do well at the nursery, although it may need to stay in a large pot. Germination was achieved using the same method as for Leucospermum winteri, but a higher dry- heat of 55°C was used to crack the final seed coat.

Spatalla nubicola – Two batches of seed from different collections of this species were germinated with 15% and 17% germination rates achieved for each. Both batches were treated in the same way. A significant proportion of the seed collected contained no embryo; this was clearly made visible by SEM imagery produced as part of a collaboration with artist Raji Salan (see 2018 report). Effort was made to choose seeds without one end looking acute and collapsed. Painstakingly, the eliasome at the end of each small seed was removed with the assistance of a fine needle. This was followed by soaking seed in smoke disk water for 24 hours and then GA3 for 36 hours, before exposing sown seed to a day/night temperature swing of 5°C/20°C. A very high mortality rate, possibly due to aphids, has left only one seedling still alive of this species, see photo on right. Since this is the first time this species has ever been cultivated and given its restricted range, these experiences are of high conservation importance and will be attempted to be reproduced in 2020.

Spatalla parilis – Two batches of seed from different collections of this species were germinated with 5% and 25% germination rates achieved for each. The same method used to germinate Spatalla nubicola was also used to germinate this species. Seedling mortality rates have meant that only 3 plants are still alive, the best of which is shown in the photo on the right. Although this species has been cultivated before in Kirstenbosch by Louise Nurrish, her success was by striking cuttings of vegetative material collected in the wild. This is likely the first time that seeds of this species have been germinated ex-situ.

Cultivation subsp. aurea In August 2019 Protea aurea subsp. aurea (BMR15032.02.03 - which was collected at 1424m on the southern slopes of Grootberg in Boosmansbos) became the first of our seed grown 2015 collections to flower - see photo below. The altitude of this seed collection is from the higher reaches of this species’ altitudinal range, with the upper quartile being at 1000m and the highest recorded plants being at 1620m. This is in a 20L terracotta pot and has flowered in 3 years and one month from germination (12/7/2016). Cuttings of this plant were taken in autumn 2020 in the hope that they may be trialled in the ground at some point.

Protea pruinosa During 2019 one plants of this species was potted up into a 4L terracotta pot and another was planted out in the trial bed. The plant in the pot is growing very strongly (see photo on right) but the plant in the ground is now dead. The reasons for this are unclear but more plants are available in 1L pots to both pot up and plant out.

Protea cryophylla Four plants of this species are at the nursery. One is in the ground, having survived its first winter in a trial bed. Another is in a 10L terracotta pot that was left outside all winter, to no ill affect. The remaining two are in 1L and 2L pots respectively and are on a bench in the greenhouse. To minimise root disturbance and mimic its wild habitat of cracked rocky ground, the pot-in-a-pot-in-a- pot method is being trialled with some of these plants. See the photo on the right for an example of this.

Protea scolopendriifolia This species is doing very well at the nursery, with one plant having survived its first winter in the ground (see photo on right) and 5 plants in 1L pots, which are ready to be potted up (see photo below).

Orothamnus zeyheri Our one plant of this species flowered during summer 2019 and produced seed which seems to contain a viable embryo. If this is the case, it implies that they are self-fertile. This seed will be sown in spring 2020. Photos below show plant in flower and seed.

Leucadendron album This species was planted out in one of the trial beds at the nursery during 2019 and has been unaffected by a winter minimum of -3.1C. See photo below right of the Leucadendron album, unscathed after the winter. Plants of this species do not seem to last long in pots, with only one left alive in a pot. It is currently in a 2L pot but is destined for a 10L terracotta pot. Leucadendron uliginosum While the plant in the nursery trial bed was killed by the ‘Beast from the East’ in March 2018, the plant in the Llanberis garden, which is more sheltered, is growing fast and is now almost head height – see photo below left. It is hoped that this plant will soon flower. A plant of this species is doing well in a 7L terracotta pot at the nursery, although it is growing slower than the one in the ground, at only 50cm, excluding the pot.

Protea montana Seed of this species has been collected as part pf the project from both the Swartberg (Waboomsberg, near Swartberg Pass) and the Kammanassie (Mannetjiesberg). Both in the wild and in cultivation these plants differ noticeably, with the Swartberg form having smaller leaves and a denser, more prostrate habit – see photo on the right. At the nursery, plants of the Kammanassie form are much more vigorous, both in pots and in the ground, while plants of the Swartberg form grow far slower. After 4 years from seed, the largest plant from the Swartberg form is only 10cm across and a dense clump (see photo above), while after only 2 years from seed the smallest Kammanassie plants are already 20cm across and the largest are over 40cm across (see photo on the left). A plant of the Swartberg form survives (but does not thrive) at the Llanberis garden, but another plant of this form has died in the nursery trial beds. A Kammanassie plant is thriving in one of the Nursery trial beds.

Mimetes hirtus On 15th July 2019, having flowered well, the grafted plant that has been growing strongly in a 10L terracotta pot for 3 years, suddenly collapsed and died. Fortunately, a cutting from this plant had previously been rooted and is now budding up, ready to grow. It will be interesting to see how this cutting does on its own roots. See below for the photos of the plant flowering and then the same plant, having collapsed.

Weather 2019 Nursery Site The weather station at the Nursery is still broken so no rainfall observations were made there and temperature observations were only made via a min/max thermometer on frosty nights. The coldest temperature recorded was -3.1°C. There were seven nights when the temperature at the Nursery went below 0°C, which were:

21/01/2019 -2.7 11/11/2019 -2.9 19/11/2019 -2.2 29/11/2019 -1.9 30/11/2019 -3.1 01/12/2019 -2 02/12/2019 -2.9

Llanberis Garden In the Llanberis garden, we installed a new weather station in time for the start of 2019. This shows that the coldest temperature of the year was -1.8°C and that there were 8 nights of frost, which were:

21/01/2019 0 30/01/2019 -1 31/01/2019 -1.3 01/02/2019 -0.7 02/02/2019 -1.6 03/02/2019 -1.8 01/12/2019 -0.5 02/12/2019 -0.4

The maximum temperature recorded in 2019 was 30.7°C and there were 14 days where the maximum reached 25°C or higher, which were:

19/04/2019 26.5 21/04/2019 26.4 23/04/2019 25.1 24/06/2019 25.4 26/06/2019 25.6 27/06/2019 27.7 28/06/2019 30.2 15/07/2019 25.1 23/07/2019 27.6 25/07/2019 30.7 29/07/2019 26.3 24/08/2019 29.9 25/08/2019 26.1 21/09/2019 26.1

In February, there was a week with maximum temperatures into the high teens and low twenties Celsius, but overnight lows during this time were below 5°C.

The new weather station recorded rainfall at the Llanberis site consistently in 2019 until 26th August. On 16th December it was finally discovered that a spider had built its nest in the rain gauge, thus interfering with the sensor. Once this was removed, rainfall was recorded again consistently until the end of the year. Even with the three and a half months with no rainfall recorded, the annual amount for 2019 came to 2228.4mm. A lot of rain fell consistently between mid-January and mid-March including an exceptional amount during 7th and 8th February when 278.7mm of rain fell in 48 hours. Dry spells include 6th – 23rd April during which only 3.6mm rain fell. 11th – 25th May was also comparatively dry, with only 5.4mm rain falling during this time. Another comparatively dry period was the month between 17th June and 17th July when 28.5mm rain fell. 9th – 16th August was quite wet for the time of year, with 160.5mm falling during this time.

Min/Max Temperature (°C) in Llanberis Garden in 2019

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

-5

08/09/2019 08/10/2019 01/01/2019 11/01/2019 21/01/2019 31/01/2019 10/02/2019 20/02/2019 02/03/2019 12/03/2019 22/03/2019 01/04/2019 11/04/2019 21/04/2019 01/05/2019 11/05/2019 21/05/2019 31/05/2019 10/06/2019 20/06/2019 30/06/2019 10/07/2019 20/07/2019 30/07/2019 09/08/2019 19/08/2019 29/08/2019 18/09/2019 28/09/2019 14/11/2019 24/11/2019 04/12/2019 14/12/2019 24/12/2019

Min of Outdoor Temperature(°C) Max of Outdoor Temperature(°C)

Llanberis Daily Rainfall(mm) 2019 160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

21/01/2019 10/07/2019 14/11/2019 11/01/2019 31/01/2019 10/02/2019 20/02/2019 02/03/2019 12/03/2019 22/03/2019 01/04/2019 11/04/2019 21/04/2019 01/05/2019 11/05/2019 21/05/2019 31/05/2019 10/06/2019 20/06/2019 30/06/2019 20/07/2019 30/07/2019 09/08/2019 19/08/2019 29/08/2019 08/09/2019 18/09/2019 28/09/2019 08/10/2019 24/11/2019 04/12/2019 14/12/2019 24/12/2019 01/01/2019

Distribution of Plants to other Collections During the course of the 2019, plants from the collection have been distributed to other botanic gardens and public collections under a loan arrangement within strict material transfer protocols. The distribution of this material serves two purposes; the long-term security for our collections and a better understanding of the climatic tolerances of species. The Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. fragrans planted at Yorkshire Arboretum has seen a winter minimum temperature of -5C on a couple of nights. This does constitute a mild winter for them but even so, the plant is doing well. Plants that went to the Eden Project are also doing well, as are those at RBG Logan and RHS Wisley. Clockwise from the top left – Leucadendron conicum, Protea magnifica, and - being planted in the new ‘Veld’ beds at the Eden Project. Photos by Florence Mansbridge.

Budget During the period 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 Outgoings Rent £480 Electricity £100 Sundries £722.28 Compost £442.11 Total Expenditure £1744.39 Donations £40 Plant sales £201 Total income £241

Personal investment £1503.39

Thanks The whole project would not have been possible without the help of the 64 backers of the crowdfunding project, the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust, a generous private donation and a bursary, via Plant Heritage, from Brother UK Ltd.

Special thanks to Martin Smit (Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam), Cherise Viljoen (Kirstenbosch), Rupert Koopman, Robbie and Vicki Thomas, Kevin and Kathy Collins ( Farm), Bob Stevens, Rosie Kressman and Natalie Chivers of Treborth Botanic Garden, Ondine Schrick and Anthony Hitchcock (Silverhill Seeds), Cape Nature, BGCI, MSBP, Outramps CREW and identifiers on the INaturalist website, The RHS, The Scottish Rock Garden Club and the horticultural teams at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Edinburgh – with particular thanks to Martin Gardner (RBGE) and Richard Bains (Logan Botanic Garden).

Thanks also to Raji Salan, Liverpool John Moores University Faculty of Sciences staff and specialist electron microscopy technician Paul Gibbons.