Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Description: Correa reflexa 'Mary's Choice', Taken: 17 January 2019, [HERBARIUM SPECIMEN] ACRA NO: Acc 774 Copyright : Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) holds copyright
Photographer: Palmer, R.

Correa reflexa var. reflexa 'Mary's Choice'

File Number

774

ACRA Field Book Number

743

Registration Date

01/09/1999

Application Received

17/06/1999

Family

Rutaceae

Cultivar Name

Correa reflexa var. reflexa 'Mary's Choice'

Origin

Correa 'Mary's Choice' is a form of Correa reflexa var. reflexa selected from a wild population near Anglesea in Victoria. The originator is unknown. It is named in honour of Mary D. White who was a tenacious and extremely knowledgeable campaigner to save areas of the floristically rich Anglesea heath-land from developers. A photograph of this cultivar has been published in Elliot and Jones 'Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants' Vol. 2, p. 94 as an example of Correa reflexa. Elliot and Jones describe the species in general terms and refer to C. reflexa forms in the trade being labelled under their location names to distinguish them from each other. This particular form is not described. The applicant is Ms Cherree Densley, Killarney, Victoria, on behalf of the Correa Study Group. Specimen received 17th June 1999.

Characteristics

Note: Received as C. 'Anglesea' Mary D. White. Erect shrub to ca. 1 m x 1.5 m with an open habit. Branchlets highly tomentose with rust-coloured stellate hairs becoming brown and glabrous with age. Leaves simple, oblong-cordate leaves, 25mm x 9mm, shortly petiolate. Leaf apices obtuse, leaf bases subcordate, venation reticulate, entire margins with white-coloured stellate hairs. Upper surfaces of mature leaves dark green and scabridulous. Upper surfaces of young leaves pale green and finely tomentose with white-coloured stellate hairs. Lower surfaces of leaves minutely densely tomentose with white stellate hairs and becoming rust coloured and more concentrated on the veins and margins. Peduncles axillary, calyx hemispherical with 4 minute teeth, 4 mm high, fawn coloured with scattered rust-coloured stellate hairs. Corolla cylindrical 35 mm x 9 mm, deep red graduating to pale green at tips, which are barely reflexed and covered with a fine tomentum of red-coloured stellate hairs becoming white- and tan-coloured at tips. Anthers shortly exerted, narrow oblong and obtuse. Peak flowering is from June to October in most districts. Diagnosis: This cultivar conforms to descriptions for C. reflexa var. reflexa by Wilson (1998). The rich-red flower colour and floriferous habit are the distinguishing features of this selection from the wild. Correa 'Mary's Choice' has been widely cultivated in Australian gardens for many years.

Cultivation

This small shrub is moderately frost and drought hardy and has an open growth habit which display the flowers. The long rich-red flowers, which appear in winter, are an attractive feature of the plant. It is easy to grow from cuttings and is bird attractive. This form would be suited to most garden conditions and will tolerate both sunny and shady positions. It responds favourably to light pruning and would suit tub planting as well as foreground planting in garden beds. It has been trialed for many years and is available commercially.

Publication

Payne, W.H. (2001), Correa Cultivars. Australian Plants 21(169): 191

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Chart 1995Flowers: 53B-C, tips (lower 1/6th) 142BLeaves: Upper surface close to 137ALeaves: Lower surface 193A

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Cherree Densley on behalf of the ASGAP Correa Study Group.

Uses

As part of a mass planting or mixed in a shrubbery, or as a feature plant. Attracts nectar feeding birds.

Availability

Specialist native plant nurseries

ANBG Accession Numbers

ACC774, ACRA743, CBG9914024

NSL ID

-