Calytrix tetragona

[greg27]

Today I found myself with a rare child-free morning, so I went for a wander in Black Hill Conservation Park. All over the place there were these small plants with tiny leaves and red flowers - my phone told me it was Calytrix tetragona, and a quick Google told me that the species exists in the park so I reckon that's it.

There were hundreds of these, mostly quite small, and with beautifully-detailed trunks. So many you could stick straight in a bonsai pot and call it a day.

I took these photos with my phone but might need to go back another time with my real camera.

[Starfox]

Beautiful, I love seeing pics of old stomping grounds. Wish I had paid more attention back then.
This reminds me I have a envelope full of these seeds.
Apparently not easy to germinate but I´m going to dig them out and give them a go.
Anyone started these from seed before, any tips?

[Per PF]

Real nice lookin'!

[greg27]

This reminds me I have a envelope full of these seeds.
Apparently not easy to germinate but I´m going to dig them out and give them a go.

I wonder if you grew these from seed if they would get the cool twisty gnarly trunks, or is that an environmental thing? Definitely keep us updated on how you go with these.

[shibui]

That is certainly Calitrix tetragona. What looks like flowers are actually the bracts left after the petals have gone. Flowers are white. These grow in the worst of conditions. They seem adapted to areas where little else survives and often grow in cracks in bare rock or dry gravel banks.
The ropy trunks are normal for the species but it takes time to develop.
I've been growing some here. One of the biggest problems is that they will not sprout on bare wood so it is imperative they are pruned right from the start. That means they are very slow to develop as I cannot allow free growth to thicken the trunks.
They also don't transplant very well.
Not sure why it would be hard to grow from seed. The ones in our garden self seed profusely. Maybe the seed has some dormancy? My ref says some are hard to grow from seed - particularly WA species but it does not list tetragona as one of the easy ones. Try some and see. I've always grown cuttings which is quite easy.

[greg27]

Thanks Neil, looks like I'll need to go back earlier in the season next year to see these in full flower.

[Matt S]

Good find Greg. These look to have potential with the gnarley trunk, fine foliage and flowers.

Might be worth a visit to the State Flora Nursery at Belair?

Matt.

[greg27]

Might be worth a visit to the State Flora Nursery at Belair?

Definitely a species that warrants playing around with I think!

[shibui]

Calitrix tetragona have just started flowering over here so some photos to show you what to expect/look for.
These first ones are planted in the 'local' part of our garden

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The older ones in that planting are around 10 years from cuttings and around 1.8 m tall (my head height) The thinner trunks shown ones are volunteer seedlings up to 7 or 8 years old.

Next is one I have grown in a pot. Probably also 10 years from the same cuttings as the older ones in the garden

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Note that there are other species of Calitrix. You will need to check flower color as well as other characteristics to Id species but they should all have similar growth characteristics.

[boom64]

Hi Greg ,i have one in a pot that has just finished flowering. A nice enough tree but as Shibui has shown rarely any lower growth and no chance of back budding. However well worth the effort for the bark and the flowers are pretty cool. Will take a a pic if i get the time tomorrow. Cheers John.

[greg27]

My tiny assistant and I went on an adventure at Black Hill Conservation Park yesterday, and I grabbed a few photos of these in flower. I'm in love with the ropy trunks.

I did grab one of these from the Belair nursery last year - so far it seems like a slow grower, but didn't object to having half its roots chopped off.