Rondeletia
Once a common garden plant, Rondeletia amoena is rarely seen nowadays. Peter Valder thinks that is a pity, because this hardy, Central American native produces a wonderful display of salmon-pink flowers every spring.
Plant details
Common name: Rondeletia
Botanic name: Rondeletia amoena
The genus name, Rondeletia, commemorates Guillaume Rondelet, a 16th century French naturalist. The species name, amoena, is from the Latin meaning ‘lovely’.
Description
An evergreen shrub or small tree to around 3m (10′) tall. It has dense, glossy foliage. In spring it produces clusters of deep salmon-pink, perfumed flowers.
Best climate
Rondeletias grow best in warm, frost-free areas of Australia.
Uses
flowering specimen plant hedge or screen bird and butterfly attracting plant hardy shrub for coastal gardens once planted with Viburnum tinus in Federation gardens
Good points
abundant flowers flowers are lightly perfumed long flowering dense evergreen foliage very hardy
Downside
None really. Rondeletias aren’t usually troubled by pests and diseases.
Care
Rondeletias like a warm, sunny position in a frost-free area. They need adequate moisture during the warmer months, and slightly acid, well-drained soil. After flowering they can be pruned to maintain the desired size and shape. Take flowered shoots back to within a few nodes of the past year’s growth.
Getting started
Rondeletia amoena is available from nurseries, or it can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late October to November.