Gardening with Margaret Matthews
At home between rocks and hard places
by Margaret Matthews
Epacris impressa, the common heath, the pink form of which is Victoria’s floral emblem, used to be a frequent inhabitant of the bushland close to Melbourne. Small pockets of it may still be seen in late winter, brightening roadsides and the ever-shrinking and pitifully meagre scraps of bush that are rapidly disappearing under the suburban sprawl.
Near my home, in the outer eastern suburbs, only the white form exists, and it is apparent that we will soon have to travel much farther afield to see it at all. So it makes good sense that we should plant these cheerful sub-shrubs in our gardens.
Observing Epacris in the bush, one notes that they often grow in dappled shade and that often their roots are buried in stony crevices. So it is evident that even if not planted in a rockery, some small stones or rocks under which they can establish a cool root run will be appreciated. Most species prefer a well-drained but moist sandy loam. They look their best when planted in drifts or grouped in containers rather than grown as single specimens.
The family Epacridaceae bears a close resemblance to Ericaceae, the heaths and heathers of Europe and South Africa. The 40 species are confined to Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand. They are small-leaved evergreen plants with tubular flowers, all of which attract nectar-loving birds.
The plants we see in the bush are, of course, seedlings, but the seed has proved difficult to germinate and most nursery plants are grown from cuttings.
All (with the exception of E. longiflora, which needs tip-pruning) should be cut back hard after flowering. This ensures compact growth and more flowers in the following season. The plants make good cut flowers, and picking them for the house performs the same service as pruning.
The following species are those most likely to succeed and to be available locally, especially at specialist native nurseries such Kuranga Native Nursery in Ringwood and Austraflora in Montrose.
Epacris brevifolia: stem-clasping, white star-like flowers at the end of long stems. A more open habit than some others.
E. impressa: pendant, tubular flowers autumn and winter, in white, pale pink and deep pink forms. Plants range from 60cm to one metre.
E. impressa ‘Bega’: a bushier plant than the more common form. Orange-red flowers in autumn, winter, spring.
E. Empressa var. ‘Grandiflora’: a form from the Grampians of much stouter habit. Can reach 1.5 metres and has thicker stems, grey foliage and bright pink flowers. There is also a double-flowered form from a restricted area of the Grampians which is available only occasionally. It is not easy to grow, but could succeed in a container.
E. impressa ‘Spring Pink’: a good form, flowering in late spring and summer.
E. longiflora: of open habit, with elongated bring red, white-tipped flowers. Good for rockeries and baskets, in semi-shade, it should be tip-pruned after flowering. It flowers for a long period through spring and summer, and is especially attractive to birds.
E. microphylla: a dainty plant with tiny foliage and stem-clasping white flowers. It likes a damp situation.
E. pulchella: minute compact foliage with pink star-like flowers in autumn and winter. Some flowers persist for most of the year.
E. reclinata: a fairly compact plant with bronze-green foliage and lipstick-pink flowers in autumn and winter.
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