Beaufortia

(Beaufor'tia)

DESCRIPTION: These are evergreen shrubs that are found in Australia. They are clothed with small, stiff leaves like those of Heather. Their flowers are small, red or purple and are produced in clusters in the summertime. They may be grown outside in mild climates such as California's, or in greenhouses.

POTTING: They can be potted in March or April, in a soil mixture of equal parts of loam, peat and leaf mold; a bit of sand should be added, also. The compost should be made firm. For a few weeks, they should be placed in a closed, moist greenhouse that has a temperature of 55-60 degrees. Subsequently, they can be placed in a cooler and drier atmosphere at 50-55 degrees. The main shoots should be pruned back by two-thirds in March.

PROPAGATION: Cuttings can be inserted into pots of sand or sandy soil in the summer. Keep the pots under a bell jar in the greenhouse until they've formed roots.

VARIETIES: B. decussata; B. purpurea.

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