Escallonia

Escallonia
Escallonia virgata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Escalloniales
Family: Escalloniaceae
Genus: Escallonia
Mutis ex L.f.
Species

n See text.

Escallonia is a genus of 40 to 50 species of flowering plants of the Escalloniaceae family. Mostly evergreen shrubs (rarely small trees), they are native to South America.[1]

Cultivation

Widely cultivated and commonly used as a hedging plant, especially in coastal areas, escallonia grows about 30 cm (12 in) per year, reaching 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft) in height, with arching branches of small, oval, glossy green leaves. Flowering from June to October (in the Northern Hemisphere), it has masses of small pink or crimson flowers, with a honey fragrance. It is best grown in full sun with some shelter. Some varieties are not fully hardy in all areas.[2] Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • 'Peach Blossom'[6]
  • 'Pride of Donard'[7]
  • 'Crimson Spire'[8]
A flowering Escallonia cultivar dominates the center of this cul-de-sac in Sidney, British Columbia.
A closer view of the cul-de-sac Escallonia shown above.

Selected Species

[9]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Escallonia.

References

  1. ↑ The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants, Ed. Christopher Brickell, Dorling Kindersly, London, 1996. ISBN 0751304360. p.419
  2. ↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  3. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Apple Blossom'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Donard Radiance'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Iveyi'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Peach Blossom'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Pride of Donard'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Flora Brasiliensis: Escallonia


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