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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
Scientific Name: Blandfordia punicea Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region
Common Name: christmas bells
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Blandfordiaceae
Form Description: Robust tufted perennial herb arising from thickened rootstock.
Flowers: Brilliant red, pendulous on short stalks. Inside of flower and reflexed tips bright yellow.
Fruit: Papery capsule – long, triangular. Each capsule has numerous seeds that are brown and hairy.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Wet heaths, moors and hillsides, sea level to sub-alpine in high rainfall areas of north-west, west and south.
Site Tolerance
Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Windy
Soil Tolerance
Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
General Notes
Unreliable as a garden plant. Fire seems to stimulate growth and flowering. Susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Grown from seed which usually has very good results. Capsule dries and splits at maturity. Most hold some seed until dislodged by wind or rain. Dry to extract seed and sieve to clean.
Seed Treatment Method
Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.
Seed Treatment Notes
Germination is often slow. It is best to sow the seed directly in pots as the roots do not like disturbance. Seedlings are slow growing. Temperature may be critical to germination i.e. not above 18°C.
Cutting & Division Information
Can be propagated by division.