Practical
Plants

Brachyloma ciliatum

Daphne Heath

a perennial woody member of the Brachyloma genus in the family Epacridaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
0.4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Environment

Range
Southern Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - probably best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Germination is difficult and unreliable. If seedlings are obtained, then prick them out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in early summer and consider giving some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors. The plant becomes woody very quickly, making it difficult to find material for cuttings[1]. Where possible, take cuttings of firm young tip growths. They can take several months to form their fine and delicate roots[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to acid soil and prefers a position in the dappled shade provided by an overhead canopy[1]. Succeeds in full sun if grown in a moist soil that does not dry out in the summer, so long as there is some sort of protection from the sun at the roots (a ground cover plant for example)[1]. The plant thrives in a poor soil so long as it is of sufficiently open nature to allow the roots to spread widely in their search for nutrients[1]. Plants do not respond well to fertilizers[1]. Plants are not very frost-hardy, tolerating only light frosts[1]. They can possibly be grown outdoors in the mildest areas of the country if given the protection of a wall, but in general they will need to be grown in a greenhouse[1]. Uncommon in cultivation, largely due to the difficulties in propagating the plant[1]. 193148

References

  1. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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