Acacia leprosa 'Scarlet Blaze'
Scarlet Blaze
Scarlet Blaze
Cultivar
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Overview:
Acacia 'Scarlet Blaze' is a cultivar of Acacia leprosa (cinnamon wattle) originating from Victoria in Australia. It is noted for its unusual red flowers
Common name: Scarlet Blaze
Conservation status: ...
Etymology:
Borrowed from Latin acacia, from Ancient Greek ἀκακία (akakía) "a thorny Egyptian tree", from ἀκή (akḗ) "point, thorn
Flowers:
Red flowers appear in globular flower heads from late winter to early spring
The red flowers are rare in the genus Acacia sensu lato where flower colour usually ranges from cream to yellow to gold
There are other red-flowered species including Acacia pervillei and Acacia sakalava from Madagascar and Acacia reniformis from Mexico, however with the ongoing reorganisation of Acacia, most non-Australian species are in the process of being assigned to other genera
Fruit:
Leaves:
In common with all forms of Cinnamon Wattle, the leaves of the cultivar release a cinnamon-like scent from its foliage, particularly in hot weather
Stem & branches:
Roots:
Habit:
It is a small tree or large shrub, growing to 5 m high and 3 m wide
Habitat:
Distribution:
Additional notes:
Discovery and introduction to cultivation
The original plant was first sighted in 1995 by a group of bushwalkers in the Black Range State Forest, north-east of Melbourne
It was a single red-flowering plant growing among the usual yellow flowered forms of the large phyllode variant of Acacia leprosa (Acacia leprosa var. uninervia) that was described as "8 feet tall and spreading"
The plant was propagated from cuttings by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Of these, three survived from which all currently grown plants are derived
In 1998 an application for plant breeders rights was made by Bill Molyneux on behalf of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne which was granted in 2003
The sole original plant has since died
The cultivar was released by Plant Growers Australia in Park Orchards in August 2001 in time for the plant to become Victoria's Centenary of Federation floral emblem
Cultivation
'Scarlet Blaze' prefers moist, well drained soils but has been found to be drought tolerant
Flowering and growth are promoted by a position in full sun, but some shade is tolerated
As with all cultivars, 'Scarlet Blaze' must be propagated by cuttings to produce true-to-type plants
Propagation from seeds has resulted in plants with flowers with a colour that ranges from yellow to red
Sources of information:
Overview & origin (ANBG)
Scarlet Blaze, one of the twentieth century's most surprising and significant horticultural discoveries is Victoria's Centenary of Federation floral emblem
The blood-red variety of the Cinnamon Wattle (Acacia leprosa) was found growing in a Victorian forest in 1995 by two bush walkers
They took cuttings to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, which manages a specialised plant conservation program, thereby saving many plants from probable extinction
The Garden's horticultural staff successfully propagated the extraordinary hybrid from cuttings rather than seed in order to preserve the unusual blood-red colouring
When grown from seed, the red colouring reverts to the more traditional yellow flower
Scarlet Blaze will be launched through Plant Growers Australia later in 2001 onto the horticultural market
It is estimated that the plant may generate at least 20,000 sales, with an interest from Europe, the US and Asia
Dr Phillip Moors, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, said: "It is fitting that Scarlet Blaze has been chosen as the State's floral emblem because its discovery and subsequent conservation has made horticultural history"
Worldwide there are about 1200 acacia species, of which 950 are in Australia. Acacia leprosa is regarded as a particularly hardy large shrub or small tree with a weeping, slender habit
It can grow throughout much of Australia, flowering in August and September, and is an ideal home garden plant