Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Description: Westringia fruticosa 'Wynyabbie Gem', Taken: 12 December 2018, [HERBARIUM SPECIMEN] ACRA NO: Acc 451 Copyright : Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) holds copyright
Photographer: Palmer, R.

Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem'

File Number

451

ACRA Field Book Number

333

Registration Date

20/10/1989

Application Received

01/03/1979

Family

Lamiaceae

Cultivar Name

Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem'

Origin

Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem' is a hybrid between W. fruticosa and a mauve flowered form of W. eremicola. It arose in cultivation at Wynyabbie Nursery, Jindalee, Queensland. The cultivar name is derived from the nursery name. The cultivar was first received by the Authority in March 1979. Registration applied for by F D Hockings of Wavell Heights, Queensland.

Characteristics

This cultivar is a medium dense shrub growing to 1.5m tall by 1.5 m high. The leaves are narrow-lanceolate to 20mm long by 3mm wide and greyish-green in colour. They are moderately dense along the branches and found in whorls of four. The branchlets are covered in closely appressed white hairs which becomes slightly fewer as the branchlets ages. The nodes are tufts of white hairs. The flowers are a light lilac-mauve to blue-mauve and are in small axillary groups in the upper leaf axils. They are borne prolifically in the spring but some occur all year round. Diagnosis: W. fruticosa: 1-2m tall x 3-4m wide. Leaves: narrow lanceolate to linear, 10-25mm long x 2-5mm wide, grey-green, glabrous on upper surface, hoary-tomentose on under surface, margins recurved or revolute, crowded on stem, usually in whorls of four, leathery. Flowers: corolla 14mm long, calyx hoary-tomentose,white to pale mauve with orange spots, flowers most of the year. W.'Wynyabbie Gem': 1.5m tall x 1.5 m wide. Leaves: Narrow lanceolate, 10-20mm x up to 3mm, grey-green, very scattered hairs on upper surface, hoary-tomentose on under surface, margins slightly recurved, moderately crowded on stem usually in whorls of four, leathery. Flowers: Corolla 10mm long, calyx moderately hairy and sharply pointed, blue-mauve with browny-orange spots, flowers in spring but occasionally over most of the year. W. eremicola: 1-2m tall x 1.5m wide. Leaves: linear to narrow linear, 5-25mm x 1-2mm.grey-green, margins revolute, not crowded on stem, mostly in whorls of three. Flowers: corolla 5-6mm long, calyx with scattered hairs, pale lilac with brownish spots, flowers mainly from September to December. Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem' is a more open and erect shrub than W. fruticosa. The cultivar is denser than W. eremicola.

Cultivation

This cultivar was the result of a purposeful hybridisation between W. fruticosa and W. eremicola. The cross was made by I Barbour of Wynyabbie Nursery. It was selected for propagation in the early 1970's. It was immediately successful around Brisbane and does well in subtropical to temperate areas. Sunny, open situations are desirable and most soils are suitable as the cultivar will become open and sparse in shadier sites. Pruning is beneficial to keep the plant compact. The cultivar is drought resistant and frost hardy. Propagation must be by vegetative means to ensure retention of the culltivar form. It s a rapidly growing plant and the grey-green of the foliage provides a useful contrast in the garden.

Publication

"Australian Native Plants" by J Wrigley and M Faggpublished in 1979 page 299.

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Chart 1966.corolla: violet group 85C spots: browny-orange

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

F D Hockings

Uses

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

Availability

Specialist native plant nurseries

ANBG Accession Numbers

ACC451, ACRA333, CBG8900718

NSL ID

-