Thryptomene 'F.C. Payne'

Thryptomene 'F.C. Payne', commonly known as Payne's thryptomene, is an Australian native plant cultivar that is widely grown in Australia. It is a selected form of Thryptomene saxicola, a species from Western Australia.[1]

Thryptomene 'F.C. Payne'
SpeciesThryptomene saxicola
Cultivar'F.C. Payne'
OriginSelected by F.C. Payne, South Australia

Description edit

Thryptomene 'F.C. Payne' is an open, evergreen shrub with a slightly weeping habit, growing to 1 metre high. It produces masses of long-stalked small pale pink flowers starting in winter and continuing through spring that are attractive to various insects including butterflies.[2][3] The aromatic leaves are small, about 6 or 7 mm long, and narrow towards the stem.[2][3]

Origin edit

In his Handbook of trees and shrubs for the Southern Hemisphere published in 1959, Richmond E. Harrison noted that the cultivar Thryptomene paynei, then newly introduced to New Zealand was "raised by FC Payne of Adelaide".[4] F.C. Payne was the owner of "The Sanctuary" plant nursery in Athelstone, South Australia on the outskirts of Adelaide who promoted the use of Australian native plants in local gardens.[5]

By 1967 the cultivar had become a "garden favorite" in Australia and was featured in a gardening guide for native plants in The Australian Women's Weekly.[6]

The cultivar has variously been referred to as var. paynei, 'Paynei', 'Paynes', 'Payne's Hybrid' and 'Payne's Selection' [3][7]

Cultivation edit

Plants may be grown as a low informal hedge or for cut flowers. They are adaptable to most situations, but prefer well drained soil in a sunny or partly shaded position.[2][3] The cultivar is widely available in most parts of Australia through plant nurseries. It requires propagation through cuttings to be true to the parent plant.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Spencer, Roger (2002). Horticultural Flora of South Eastern Australia. UNSW Press.
  2. ^ a b c Lord, Ernest and J.H. Willis (1982). Shrubs and trees for Australian gardens (5 ed.). Lothian Publishing. ISBN 0-85091-027-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e Burke, Don (2005). The complete Burke's backyard: the ultimate book of fact sheets. Murdoch Books. ISBN 1-74045-739-0.
  4. ^ Harrison, Richmond E. (1959). Handbook of trees and shrubs for the Southern Hemisphere. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 319.
  5. ^ Aniśko, Thomas (2006). Plant exploration for Longwood Gardens. Timberline Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-88192-738-2.
  6. ^ "THE GARDENER'S GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 4 October 1967. p. 43 Section: The Gardener's Guide To Australian Native Plants. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Thryptomene saxicola". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 4 May 2011.