Episode: Six
Date: 12th April 2008
Presenter: Melissa King
Story Title: Austraflora

Austraflora is a leading brand in the field of native plant production. The Garden Gurus team along with Austraflora show you a range of naturally stunning plants of the Callistemon range. Bottlebrush as they are commonly called is a brightly coloured, dense, bushy plant that is extremely versatile. They come in a variety of colours such as lipstick red, purple / maroon, cream, and silver. The bottlebrush is not only attractive to the human eye but it will also attract a feast of birds too.

The Company

Austraflora Pty Ltd is an Australian Company dedicated to the production and marketing of a range of high quality Australian native plants for horticulture.

The Directors of Austraflora, Bill Molyneux and Sue Forrester, are two of Australia’s most experienced and knowledgeable horticultural botanists, authors and plant explorers, travelling to the most remote corners of Australia in search of new varieties.

For nearly thirty years, Austraflora was conducted as a retail and wholesale nursery, in a superbly landscaped site at Montrose, Victoria. Since the beginning of 1999, however, Austraflora has concentrated upon the breeding, selection and development of Australian plants, for both the domestic and the overseas horticultural markets. All of these varieties are registered with the Austraflora Trade Mark, and many of them are protected by Plant Breeders Rights and patents.

Retail nurseries, garden centres and chainstore nurseries regularly stock Austraflora varieties. If you cannot find a particular plant in a nursery near to you, call or email Austraflora for assistance.

The Austraflora Native Plant Collection

The Collection includes varieties suited to small or large gardens, broad landscape and street planting. There are little plants for containers and small gardens, small to medium shrubs, groundcovers, climbers and creepers, and small trees. They are selected because of their proven hardiness and reliability, their attractive appearance, their particular appeal to honeyeating birds and insects, and their ability to grow in a wide range of climates and soils.

The Austraflora Label & Logo

All Austraflora plants carry the distinctive and colourful Austraflora label. The front of the label shows the flower of the variety, and the back of the label gives clear, concise notes on growing requirements, and how best to use each plant in your landscape.

The Austraflora logo is on every label. It shows a stylised bottlebrush flower, and is our symbol of quality and reliability. Bottlebrushes (Callistemon spp) are a group of beautiful, hardy and very showy Australian plants found in every state of the continent. There are many Austraflora bottlebrushes which you will find exceptionally attractive to honeyeaters, and are easy to grow.

The five selections presented on The Garden Gurus TV (April 12, 2008) are amongst the best on the market, and detailed information follows on this Fact Sheet.

Rosy Morn™ Callistemon sp. nova aff pallidus

Bottlebrush flowers are always a lovely sight, but Rosy Morn™ also excels with its buds. A long anticipation period is the bonus ~ as they develop, the pink and silvery bracts are as eye-catching as the opening flowers.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense compact shrub
• 60cm - 1m H x 1m W
• Silvery-purple new foliage, aging to grey-green
• Buds covered in beautiful red bracts
• Misty-purple brushes
• Flowers from spring to early summer
• Honeyeaters and other small birds flock to the nectar-rich brushes.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates
• Dry, moist or seasonally wet clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Very frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal and inland gardens

Landscape Uses

• Low hedging
• Group beneath taller screening plants

• Combine with mixed bird attracting plantings
• Plant in multiples for landscape impact

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Trim off spent flowers in summer
• Light pruning as required and to promote dense new growth
• Clip regularly for hedging
• Minimal maintenance once established

Silver Cloud™ Callistemon pallidus

Silver foliage belongs in every landscape and garden design. When a flush of soft lemon brushes is added, it’s a beautiful picture. A maximum hardiness rating and bird attraction puts Silver Cloud on every must-have list.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense shrub
• 1.8m H x 1.5m W
• Striking silver-grey foliage and plum-coloured new growth
• Masses of perfumed creamy yellow flowers
• Flowers from spring to early summer
• Honeyeaters and other small birds flock to the nectar-rich brushes.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates
• Moist or seasonally wet clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Very frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal and inland gardens

Landscape Uses

• A lovely small specimen or amongst mixed bird attracting plantings
• Plant for narrow screening or hedging
• Plant in multiples as a background or edging for water areas
• Foliage contrast of particular Impact

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Light pruning as required and to promote dense new growth
• Clip regularly for hedging
• Minimal maintenance once established

Mary MacKillop™ Callistemon viminalis x Callistemon ‘Endeavour’

One of the best bottlebrushes you can choose to bring all kinds of honeyeaters into your garden.
Masses of bloom throughout spring and early summer, and with a little summer watering, the season extends to autumn and early winter. That’s Flora for Fauna for sure. Mary MacKillop sets very little seed, which in turn means the branches do not elongate excessively. Maintenance is very simple.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense lightly weeping medium shrub
• 2 - 2.5m H x 1 - 2m W
• Bright glossy leaves and lettuce green new growth
• Large cardinal red brushes
• Flowers from spring to early summer, again in autumn to early winter
• Honeyeaters and other small birds flock to the nectar-rich brushes.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates with adequate water
• Well drained, moist or seasonally wet clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Moderately frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal and inland gardens

Landscape Uses

• Colourful hedging, screening or boundary planting
• Avenue planting in formal setting
• A shapely specimen suited to formal gardens
• Spectacular in a large container, especially when repeat planted
• Stunning when grouped in broad landscapes

• Combine with mixed bird attracting plantings
• Suitable for streetscapes

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Trim off spent flowers regularly in summer
• Light pruning as required and to promote dense new growth
• Clip regularly for hedging
• Minimal maintenance once established
• Choose premium quality Australian standard potting mix suitable for native plants if planting in containers

Four Seasons™ Callistemon Hannah Ray x C. Endeavour

Four Seasons weeps almost to the ground, displaying its flower clusters at the ends of the branches. It flowers regularly throughout the year, sets very little seed, and maintenance is very simple. Just snip off the spent flowers and wait for the next flush of buds to develop.

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A dense medium shrub
• 1.8 - 2m H x 1.5 -1.8m W
• A low branching habit and pendulous foliage
• Huge bunches of crimson-pink flowers
• Can bloom throughout the year, predominantly spring and autumn
• Nectar-rich flowers provide plentiful food for honeyeaters, while wrens and other small insect feeders will feast off the insects attracted to the flowers.

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid climates
• Moist clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Moderately frost tolerant
• Suitable for second line coastal positions

Landscape Uses

• Plant for compact hedging
• Specimen planting or mixed with other shrubs
• Beneath taller screening plants
• Suitable for street tree planting
• Spectacular when clustered along shoreline of large water areas
• Plant beside smaller ponds

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Regular trimming of spent flowers promotes continual new growth and vigorous budset for following season
• Minimal maintenance once established

Genoa Glory™ Callistemon forresterae
The lovely Genoa Glory displays its vibrant brushes for all the honeyeaters in the district, and butterflies and other nectar-seeking fauna find these flowers irresistible. Wherever it is planted, it is a crowd stopper ~ Perfect Flora for Fauna

Habit, Size & Flowering

• A compact shrub
• 1.5 - 2.5m H x 1.2 - 2m W
• Single or multi-stemmed, with light papery bark
• Dense grey-green foliage
• Numerous glossy purple-maroon brushes
• Blooms in spring and autumn

Water, Climate & Soils

• Low water needs when established
• Cool temperate to sub tropical and semi arid (with additional moisture) climates
• Moist clay or sandy loams, neutral to acid pH
• Full sun or light shade
• Very frost tolerant
• Suitable for coastal positions

Landscape Uses

• Plant as a showy specimen or in groups
• Around pools
• For screening and hedging
• In streetscapes and open parkland

Maintenance

• Controlled release low phosphorus fertilizer around root zone
• Feed in early spring or late summer
• Light pruning of foliage to shape after flowering
• Remove spent flowers regularly
• Minimal maintenance once established

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RETAIL NURSERIES AND GARDEN CENTRES
STOCKING THE AUSTRAFLORA CALLISTEMONS

(AS SEEN ON THE GARDEN GURUS TV SATURDAY 12TH APRIL 2008)

NOTE TO CUSTOMERS:
If unable to locate a retail outlet in your region, or for further information, please contact Austraflora :
Tel: (03) 5965 2011
Fax: (03) 5965 2033
Email: austraflora@warrandyte.hotkey.net.au

ACT
Greengold Federation Square
Magnet Mart Stores (Albion Park ,Bowral, Goulburn, Gungahlin )

NEW SOUTH WALES
McDougall & Cruise Garden Centre (Tumut)
Newcastle Wildflower Nursery (Glendale)
Palmlands Nursery (Terrey Hills)
Peards (Wodonga)
The Wildflower Place (Erina Heights)
Tura Beach Garden Centre (Merimbula)

QUEENSLAND
Garden Way (Darra)
Nielsens Native Nursery (Loganhome)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Barossa Nursery (Nuriootpa)
Bunnings Building Supplies (Marion, Mile End, Parafield Gardens, Noarlunga, Mount Gambier, Munno Para, Windsor Gardens, Modbury, Kent Town)
Fairview Nursery (Elizabeth )
Frogs & Roses Nursery (Kingscote)
Garden Grove Supplies (Golden Grove)
Growmaster Group (Bordertown & Naracoorte)
Heyne’s Garden Centre (Beulah Park)
Ibis Siding Garden Centre (Marino)
State Flora (Belair)

TASMANIA
Allans Garden Centre (Prospect )

VICTORIA
All Green Nursery (Hoppers Crossing )
Beach Tree Nursery (Torquay )
Big W (Sunbury)
Burdetts Nursery (Langwarrin)
Bushwalk Nursery (Cranbourne)
Dahlsens (Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Lakes Entrance, Mildura, Sale, Warragul)
Diamond Valley Nursery
Faggs Mitre 10 (Geelong Sth)
Faggs Mitre 10 (Torquay)
Flower Power (Narre Warren, Chadstone, Taylors Lakes)
Goldfields Revegetation (Bendigo)
Green & Grow (Benalla)
GrowMaster Group (Albury, Ararat, Ballarat, Bendigo/Eaglehawk, Horsham, Sale, Traralgon)
Home of Garden Lovers (Mt Evelyn)
Instant Gardens (Braeside)
Kmart Garden Centre (East Burwood)
McGains Nursery (Anglesea)
Mitre 10 (Ararat, Bayswater, Benalla, Capeview Cowes, Emerald, Wallington, Werribee )
Mitre 10 Mega (Chelsea Heights )
Nortthroy Nursery
Pearsons Nursery (Warrnambool and Hamilton)
Permewans Garden Centre (Hamilton )
Poyntons (Essendon )
Shalimar Nursery (Colac )
Van Loons Nursery (Wallington)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Bunnings Building Supplies
Waldeck Nurseries
(Other enquiries: Domus Nursery 08 9293 1768)

Contact

Austraflora Pty Ltd

Bill Molyneux & Sue Forrester
PO Box 386, Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775
Tel: 03 5965 2011
Fax: 03 5965 2011
Email: austraflora@warrandyte.hotkey.net.au
Website: www.austraflora.com