ISHS Acta Horticulturae 683: V International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
UTILIZATION OF HELICHRYSUM DEVIUM JOHNS. AND HELICHRYSUM OBCONICUM DC. AS ORNAMENTAL PLANTS |
| Author: | M.J. Oliveira Dragovic |
| Keywords: | endemic, pot plant, hedge plant, adaptation, pruning. |
| Abstract:
Helichrysum devium Johns. and Helichrysum obconicum DC. are endemic plants of Madeira Island (Portugal) where the first is a white tomentose sub-shrub up to 50cm with sweet-scented blackish to purplish brown florets and the latter is a small shrub up to 60cm with grey silver leaves and small yellow golden flowers. The phenological aspects of H. devium and H. obconicum in the natural habitat and under cultivation were observed. In both conditions, plants of H. obconicum are in reproductive stage from July to November and plants of H. devium are in reproductive stage from February to June. Several experiments were carried out to evaluate the adaptation of these species to pot and garden conditions. The results showed that both species can be adapted to either condition, with only some differences in the conduction of plants. Both species require full sunlight and a moderate watering i.e. allowing the substrate to dry slightly between each watering period, in order to avoid etiolated plants and root disease problems. H. devium is more suitable to for pot than H. obconicum because of its naturally shorter and more compact canopy; moreover, no pruning is required for it to develop a canopy that fills the pot in a short time. As a garden plant, H. devium fits very well in flowerbeds or borders. H. obconicum can be used as an individual flowering shrub or as a hedge plant. In both cases some pruning may be necessary in order to get the desired shape and compactness of the canopy. Plants react better and faster to the pruning when it is done during the vegetative period. | |
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