Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Description:
Photographer:

Description: Crowea exalata 'Festival', Taken: 21 January 2019, [HERBARIUM SPECIMEN] ACRA NO: Acc 194 Copyright : Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) holds copyright
Photographer: Palmer, R.

Crowea 'Festival'

File Number

194

ACRA Field Book Number

82

Registration Date

19/03/1981

Application Received

09/02/1980

Family

Rutaceae

Cultivar Name

Crowea 'Festival'

Origin

Crowea 'Festival' is said to be a hybrid between C. exalata and C. saligna and was selected from a number of seedlings that arose in the garden of Mr and Mrs Cooper in Turramurra, NSW. Cultivar received by the Authority 9 February 1980.

Characteristics

This cultivar is a small, dense shrub that grows to approximately 1m high by 1m wide. The flowers are star shaped, deep pink in colour and plus/minus 20mm in diameter. It flowers from November to March in Sydney with occasional flowers being found at other times of the year. The leaves are 30-40mm long by plus/minus 4mm wide and narrow elliptical to elliptical in shape. Leaf margins are entire. Diagnosis: Crowea 'Festival' can be distinguished from C. saligna as the leaves, even though of a similar shape to C. saligna, are smaller. C. saligna and Crowea 'Festival' have narrow elliptical to elliptical leaves 30-40mm long by plus/minus 4mm wide. C. saligna has very distinct angular branches, to the point of being "winged". C. exalata has just discernable angular branches. C. 'Festival' has branches similar to C. exalata. Colour forms similar to this cultivar can be found in both C. exalata and C. saligna. However, propagation of these species can be difficult at times. Crowea 'Festival' propagates readily in a few weeks, giving a good percentage strike. This cultivar must be grown by vegetative means to preserve the form. It readily accepts heavy pruning and is a good cutflower. Comparators: C. exalata NBG 002905; C. saligna NBG 008963; NBG 0022782; NBG 009372; NBG 023972

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

Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (1982), Australian Plant Cultivars. Australian Plants 11(91): 326

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Chart 1966. Flowers: inside of petals: greyed purple 186A.outside of petals: greyed purple 186B.gynoecium: greyed purple 186D.

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Mrs I Cooper

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

ACC194; ACRA082; CBG8116324

NSL ID

-