Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description: Correa backhouseana 'Kiss Me Kate', Taken: 17 January 2019, [HERBARIUM SPECIMEN] Copyright : Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) holds copyright
Photographer: Palmer, R.

Description:
Photographer: Maria Hitchcock

Correa 'Kiss Me Kate'

File Number

1274

ACRA Field Book Number

1274

Registration Date

27/01/2010

Application Received

01/05/2008

Family

Rutaceaee

Cultivar Name

Correa 'Kiss Me Kate'

Origin

Chance seedling which originated in the Mole Station nursery in the northern NSW. Named after the niece of nursery’s owner, Sarah Caldwell. Application for registration by Maria Hitchcock on behalf of the Correa Study Group.

Characteristics

Compact low-growing, small plant. Mature leaves opposite, 16mm x 15 mm, cordate, apex obtuse, margin wavy, dark glossy green and glabrous on top, visible oil glands and scattered stellate hairs on the margins. Underside of leaves paler green, with scattered dark stellate hairs. Petiole 3mm, light green, covered with dark stellate hairs. Calyx 4 mm x 7 mm, tan coloured, square shaped, no calyx teeth present, covered with numerous small stellate hairs. Pedicel 4mm similar to calyx. Corolla 24 mm x 10 mm (just above petal split), rose pink colour covered with numerous small stellate hairs. Corolla throat paler pink, glabrous. Stamens 8, exerted from the corolla, 26 mm long, white, widened towards the base. Anther dark coloured, 1.5 mm long. Style 27 mm long, filament very fine and white. Flowering from January onwards with a peak flowering in March/April. Diagnosis: Thought to be a hybrid between C. ‘Federation Belle’ and C. ‘Dusky Bells’. This hybrid differs from C. ‘ Federation Belle ’ which has a pink and cream flower colour and the pink is slightly more orange in C. ‘ Kiss-Me-Kate ’ . Leaves of C. ‘ Federation Belle ’ are larger with apices more acute and the underside is paler green. Differs from C. ‘ Dusky Bells ’ which has longer and narrower flowers and the flowers are slightly darker pink. Calyx is green rather than tan and leaves are longer, narrower and elliptical in shape. RHS Colour Chart 1995: Corolla: 58C Mature Leaves: 137A/B

Cultivation

Does best in well-drained soil in either full sun or light shade. Good foreground plant or will do well as a tub plant. Prune lightly to maintain compact shape. Fertilise annually with a slow-release fertiliser. Bird attractive. Cuttings strike readily.

Publication

Hitchcock, M. (2010), Correas: Australian Plants for Waterwise Gardens: 79

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Chart 1995: Corolla: 58C; Mature Leaves: 137A/B

Propagation

Cuttings from semi-firm new growth

Applicant Name

Maria Hitchcock for the Correa Study Group

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

-

NSL ID

-