Callistemon 'Country Sprite'

ORIGIN: Callistemon 'Country Sprite' is a seedling of Callistemon 'Glasshouse Country' (an F2 hybrid of C. recurvus X C. salignus, ACRA registered number 357). It was selected in 1986 from a batch of seedlings grown in the home garden of Mrs E J Morgan. The name was chosen in reference to its parentage. The cultivar was first received by the Authority in February 1990. Registration applied for by Mrs E J Morgan, Glasshouse Mountains, Qld.

DESCRIPTION: Fairly loose, open shrub to 4-5m tall. The new growth is coppery pink. The leaves are narrowly elliptic to narrow-oblanceolate, 42-64mm long, and 6-9mm wide. The leaf stalk is 1-1.7mm long, margins slightly recurved (on herbarium specimens at least); reticulate venation clearly visible. Flower spike moderately open to relatively dense, ca. 35mm wide. Stamens ca. 44-50, ca. 15mm long, pink at the tip, pale at the base. Anthers yellow. Style exceeding stamens, pale green. Fruit not seen. Flowering period mostly spring and late summer.

DIAGNOSIS:

Differs from C. 'Glasshouse Country' in:

flowers redder and larger

darker leaf colour of older leaves

larger leaves

prominent pale green styles

Differs from C. recurvus in:

pale flower colour with stamens pale at base

paler, longer and wider leaves

leaves with less recurved margins (at least in dry specimens)

As with C. 'Tin-Sal Glow' there is a superficial resemblance to pink forms of C. seiberi (syn. C. palludosus). However, the pale bases to the stamens and slightly recurved leaf margins of C. 'Country Sprite' are distinct.

CULTIVATION: Yet to be introduced to commerce (1991). It is a vigorous grower. Flowering noticeably improves with extra water. It has a medium frost tolerance and is said to be highly resistant to drought. Propagation must be carried out by vegetative means to preserve the cultivar form.

COLOUR CODING: RHS Colour Chart 1966

filaments: ca. Red Group 48C

ACRA REFERENCES: ACC461, ACRA458, CBG9002619

ACCEPTED FOR REGISTRATION ON: 16 October 1992