Municipalities

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Scientific Name

Leucopogon virgatus

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Beard-heath

Status

Height

Flowers

White, in short dense spikes, crowded at ends of branches.Sepals have prominent central vein.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Small shrub with slender, wiry branches, non-hairy, erect or spreading.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Tamar

Communities

Widespread in dry soils

Habitat Notes

Widespread and abundant in poor dry soils.

Site Tolerance

Dry

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Well-drained

General Notes

Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Fruit a small greenish-black drupe, almost dry

Seed Treatment Method

Storage

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Poor results from untreated seed. Storage in dark place for 3-6 months may promote germination. Sow in soil from under parent plant. Some success also with bird-ingested seed. Germination time can be reduced with stratification.

Germination Time

3-18 months

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Usually grown from cuttings.The percentage strike is generally low and the roots that are formed are very fine and easily damaged in repotting operations. Also, they are not easily maintained. It is suggested that most species require a well-drained, well-composted soil with cool root run provided by large flat stones or a thick mulch. Some shade is also considered beneficial.