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Escallonia species - .

Escallonia

Physical Characteristics

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats

Hedge;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'Apple Blossom'
'Crimson Spire'
'Donard Beauty'
'Donard Gem'
'Ingrami'
'Iveyi'
'Langleyensis'
'Peach Blossom'
'Pride of Donard'
'Red Hedger'

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

Other Uses

Hedge.

Very tolerant of extreme maritime exposure, making a very good windbreak hedge[75]. Tolerant of regular and severe pruning, it can regenerate from the base if cut back by frost[200].

Cultivation details

Prefers an open sunny position and a soil that is not too rich, an ordinary sandy loam will suffice[11]. Succeeds in dry soils. Tolerates lime[200]. Plants are very tolerant of maritime exposure[184]. Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[184]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[200].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details on this plant but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a cold frame. 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. Since it is a cultivar it will not breed true. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Either put the cuttings in individual pots or pot them up as soon as they start to root. Easy[K]. Cuttings of mature wood in winter. Very easy, just plant the cuttings direct into their final positions, about 95% usually take[29, K]. Keep them moist in a dry spring.

Cultivars

'Alice'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Apple Blossom'

Hardy to -20c.

'C. F. Ball'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Compacta Coccinea'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c. A very erect shrub[200].

'Crimson Spire'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Donard Beauty'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Donard Gem'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Donard Radiance'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Donard Seedling'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Edinensis'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Glasnevin Hybrid'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Ingrami'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Iveyi'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Langleyensis'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Peach Blossom'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Pink Pearl'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Pride of Donard'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Red Hedger'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'Slieve Donard'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'St. Keverne'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

'William Watson'

Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to -10c.

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[29] Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974 ISBN 0900629649
A small but informative booklet giving details of all the hedging plants being grown in the R.H.S. gardens at Wisley in Surrey.

[75] Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984
A small booklet packed with information on trees and shrubs for hedging and shelterbelts in exposed maritime areas.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Escallonia species

Philip H Bowers Sat Aug 11 2007

I was looking for pruning advice in the cultivation notes, whcih may be impossible as the different varieties may all have different requirements or tolerances. I think the first paragraph looks like someone left the 'key information template' still visisble - you cannot prefer all three soil types and the text reveals that sandy soil is probably best!

Escallonia species

Stuart Holder Sat Sep 15 2007

Ican't beleave that any escallonia will withstand tempetures as low as minus 20'c I only recomend minus 7'c stuartaholder@tiscali.co.uk or escallonia.co.uk

Stuart Holder's Nursery North Devon England

Escallonia species

Stuart Holder Mon Oct 29 2007

Escallonias turn white at minus 7'C and will die at colder tempetures. Yours Escallonia .co.uk

Stuart Holder's Nursery 01271 815269 07788767154

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