Practical
Plants

Corokia x virgata

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Corokia genus in the family Cornaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cornaceae
Genus
Corokia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Spread
3.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

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

Plants can be grown as a medium size hedge[7], they are fairly tolerant of trimming and do well in mild coastal areas[3].

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
A hybrid species, probably C. buddleioides x C. cotoneaster.
Habitat
Not known in the wild.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - this is a hybrid species and will not come true from seed. The seed can be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in the late winter. It can be slow to germinate. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 7 - 10cm with a heel, November in a cold frame. Leave for 12 months before potting up. High percentage[8].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any fertile well-drained soil[1] as long as it is not very dry[5]. Prefers a position in full sun but tolerates light shade[5]. Plants are very wind tolerant[3]. This species is on the borderlines of hardiness at Kew, but it resprouts from the base if cut back by severe weather[2]. It tolerates temperatures down to about -8°c if growing in a sunny sheltered position by a wall and also succeeds as a free-standing shrub in the milder areas of the country[1]. This hybrid species is particularly free-flowering and produces copious fruit[6]. A number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  6. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  7. Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649

    ↩

  8. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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