Practical
Plants

Hakea sericea

Silky Hakea

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Hakea genus in the family Proteaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Hakea
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Material uses

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

A gum, somewhat similar to gum tragacanth (which is obtained from various Astragalus spp), is obtained from the stems[10][3]. Shrubs are planted for the reclamation of arid land in Spain and Portugal[9]. Plants are used for screening purposes in Australia[4].

Product or use
Gum

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Soil builder

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria. Locally naturalized in parts of S.W. Europe.
Habitat
Dry sclerophyll forests and heaths on sandstone soils and shales[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
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 - sow March in a greenhouse. Germination is usually good. 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[11]. Cuttings of mature wood[1].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in a hot dry position, requiring a lime-free soil[6]. Requires plenty of moisture in the growing season but a very well-drained soil[1]. Wind tolerant[5]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, but it succeeds outdoors in S.W. England[2]. Plants are hardy to about -7°c in Australian gardens but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder wetter winters. They grow well in a Mediterranean climate, with cool wet winters and hot dry summers[7]. Some forms of this species are lower growing with a tendency to sucker[4]. Sometimes confused with H. lissosperma, some plants grown as H. acicularis are H. lissosperma[2]. A good bee plant. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩

  4. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩1↩2

  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

    ↩

  9. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  10. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩

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

    ↩

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