Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Description: Callistemon citrinus 'Kings Park Special', Taken: 17 December 2018, [HERBARIUM SPECIMEN] ACRA NO: Acc 227 Copyright : Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) holds copyright
Photographer: Palmer, R.

Callistemon 'Kings Park Special'

File Number

227

ACRA Field Book Number

236

Registration Date

27/10/1986

Application Received

01/01/1980

Family

Myrtaceae

Cultivar Name

Callistemon 'Kings Park Special'

Origin

Callistemon 'Kings Park Special' is a seedling that was raised at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens in Perth. The origin of the seed is not known. The original plant was selected and propagated by Mr E Wittwer as showing great potential for cultivation.The cultivar was first received by the Authority in October 1980. Registration applied for by Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth 6005.

Characteristics

This cultivar grows into small bushy trees from 3 to 5m tall by 3 to 4m wide. The inflorescences are in multiple heads on brach terminals and are bright red in colour. They are up to 13cm long by 6cm wide. The flowering season in Western Australia is from mid September to October with a smaller flowering in autumn. The leaves are up to 110mm long by up to 15mm wide. The shrub is much branched and the branchlets are slightly pendulous. Diagnosis: There is some similarity between Callistemon 'Harkness' (syn. 'Gawler hybrid') and Callistemon 'Kings Park Special'. Callistemon 'Kings Park Special' thrives in an open position and is fast growing. It responds well to pruning after flowering and the original plant has been severely pruned on two occasions and recovered well. This cultivar sets fertile seed but must be grown by vegetative means to preserve the cultivar form. Callistemon 'Kings Park Special' has proved to be more floriferous in western Australia than Callistemon 'Harkness'. It is adaptable to a wide range of soil types though can suffer frost damage to the younger shoot growth when grown in areas that experience severe frost. This latter factor could well be an indicator of C. viminalis being involved in the parentage of this cultivar.

Cultivation

Hardy, reliable and adaptable cultivar which flowers prolifically, growing well in most soils. Best in a sunny site but will tolerate some shade. It responds well to heavy pruning and is drought tolerant and frost hardy.

Publication

Elliot, W.R. & Jones, D.L. (1982), Encyclopaedia of Australian plants suitable for cultivation 2: 412, 426

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Code 1966.Flowers: stamens: close to red group 46B.

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Kings Park and Botanic Garden

Uses

As part of a mass planting or mixed in a shrubbery, or as a spectacular feature plant.

Availability

Widely available, Kuranga nursery

ANBG Accession Numbers

ACC227; ACRA236; CBG8700565/8006610, Butler, G. 1026

NSL ID

-