Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Description:
Photographer:

Babingtonia bidwillii 'Howie's Sweet Midget'

File Number

150

ACRA Field Book Number

-

Registration Date

30/03/1979

Application Received

15/09/1977

Family

Myrtaceae

Cultivar Name

Babingtonia bidwillii 'Howie's Sweet Midget'

Origin

Baeckea 'Howie's Sweet Midget' was a seedling variant of B. virgata which arose in a batch of seed from the Brisbane form.

Characteristics

It is a small compact plant reachinga height of up to 500mm by ca. 600mm wide. The leaves are opposite, ca. 10mm long and 1.5mm wide. The five petalled flowers form in small umbels near the ends of branchlets and are 5-6mm across. The flowers occur in summer. Diagnosis: Its compact dwarf habit distinguishes it from its parents which usually grow to 3m or more.

Cultivation

It grows in cool temperate to tropical regions and is quite drought resistant, although it responds well to watering during dry periods. Applications of slow release fertilizers are also beneficial.It is very hardy and adaptable, being perfect for rockeries and also suitable for pot culture. At the Australian National Botanic Gardens plants have grown well for at least 12 years in heavy clay soils. The plant is naturally compact although a light but regular pruning after flowering helps keep the plant bushy. The plant tolerates quite heavy frosts. It is relatively pest free, though occasional scale and webbing caterpillars have been noted.

Publication

Payne, W.H. (1979), Garden Cultivars of Australian Plants. Australian Plants 10(80): 171

Colour Coding

N/A

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Howie's Nursery.

Uses

As part of the shrubbery, or as a showy feature plant

Availability

Unknown

ANBG Accession Numbers

ACC150

NSL ID

-