Acrothamnus colensoi (Hook.f.) Quinn

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Acrothamnus colensoi' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acrothamnus/acrothamnus-colensoi/). Accessed 2025-04-28.

Family

Ericaceae

Genus

Acrothamnus

Synonyms

Leucopogon colensoi Hook.f.
Cyathodes colensoi (Hook.f.) Hook.f.

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

apex: (pl. apices) Tip. apical At the apex.
corolla: The inner whorl of the perianth. Composed of free or united petals often showy.
glaucous: Grey-blue often from superficial layer of wax (bloom).

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Acrothamnus colensoi' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acrothamnus/acrothamnus-colensoi/). Accessed 2025-04-28.

Acrothamnus colensoi flowering on the rock garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (19694055*A), the air around the plant strongly honey-scented. 7 April 2025. Image Tom Christian.

Editorial Note

Bean treated this species under the synonym Cyathodes colensoi.

A low shrub of heath-like habit up to 18 in. high. Leaves narrow-oblong, 1⁄5 to 1⁄3 in. long and up to 1⁄8 in. wide, glaucous grey above and often membranous towards the apex, undersides whitish with conspicuous, almost parallel veins; growth buds with numerous pinkish scales which remain for some time at the base of the young shoot. Flowers three to five in short racemes, borne in spring at the ends of the young growth; corolla tubular, about 1⁄4 in. long, lobes densely hairy on the upper surface. Fruit white or red, about 1⁄5 in. wide.

A native of the mountains of New Zealand. It is one of the hardiest of the species making up the former Epacridaceae (now Ericaceae subfam. Epacridoideae), growing well though slowly in peaty soil and damaged only in the severest winters. Its fruits are rarely seen in this country but it is well worth growing for its attractive foliage and young growth.

Close up of honey-scented flowers on Acrothamnus colensoi on the rock garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (19694055*A). 7 April 2025. Image Tom Christian.

Young extension growth on a plant of Acrothamnus colensoi on the rock garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (19694055*A). 30 May 2024. Image Tom Christian.

Acrothamnus colensoi in the Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK. 27 April 2023. Image Jack Aldridge.