Escallonia

Escallonia
Escallonia virgata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Escalloniales
Family:	Escalloniaceae
Genus:	Escallonia Mutis ex L.f.
Species
n See text.

Escallonia is a genus of 40 to 50 species of flowering plants of the Escalloniaceae family. Mostly evergreen shrubs (rarely small trees), they are native to South America.^[1]

Cultivation

Widely cultivated and commonly used as a hedging plant, especially in coastal areas, escallonia grows about 30 cm (12 in) per year, reaching 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft) in height, with arching branches of small, oval, glossy green leaves. Flowering from June to October (in the Northern Hemisphere), it has masses of small pink or crimson flowers, with a honey fragrance. It is best grown in full sun with some shelter. Some varieties are not fully hardy in all areas.^[2] Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

'Apple Blossom'[3] 'Donard Radiance'[4]       'Iveyi'[5]

'Peach Blossom'[6] 'Pride of Donard'[7] 'Crimson Spire'[8]

A flowering Escallonia cultivar dominates the center of this cul-de-sac in Sidney, British Columbia.

A closer view of the cul-de-sac Escallonia shown above.

Selected Species

^[9]

Escallonia angustifolia Escallonia bifida Escallonia exoniensis Escallonia floribunda Escallonia glutinosa Escallonia herrerae Escallonia illinita Escallonia langleyensis Escallonia leucantha Escallonia macrantha Escallonia myrtilloides Escallonia myrtoidea Escallonia organensis Escallonia paniculata

Escallonia pendula Escallonia poasana Escallonia pterocladon Escallonia pulverulenta Escallonia punctata Escallonia resinosa Escallonia revoluta Escallonia rubra Escallonia × stricta Escallonia virgata

References

1. The Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants, Ed. Christopher Brickell, Dorling Kindersly, London, 1996. ISBN 0751304360. p.419
2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
3. "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Apple Blossom'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
4. "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Donard Radiance'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
5. "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Iveyi'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
6. "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Peach Blossom'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
7. "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia 'Pride of Donard'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
8. "RHS Plant Selector - Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire'". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
9. Flora Brasiliensis: Escallonia