Leptospermums

I am finding I really have an obsession with leptospermums. I just found a new one today called "Dark Shadows". I think I have about 10-12 of them now, but I am not done yet!
I am wondering if anyone has had luck propagating them, I am trying some from seed and some cuttings and any info would be good.
Anyone else loving these shrubs/trees?
Rebecca

Copied from a old book ...Propagated by cuttings of young shoots,( semi Hardwood) Placed in sand ,under a glass,( Misting House) during May; or by seeds sown in gentle heat ( bottom heat) During March.
Hope this will help you .Boot

Thanks, you are so lucky to get those lovely things easily. I search them out in all the nurserys I go to here, usually find them stuck in someones "special" area and have to talk my way into getting one or two. I am getting ready to try some cuttings and seeds but have heard they are difficult.
Do you happen to have seeds from some interesting ones?
Rebecca

hi Rebecca sounds like you have quite a few!! D mail Me with the ones you have. and I will try to find you something different .

A well groomed shrub somewhere in Renwick Blenheim

Another new one for me, so I went to googling. A very interesting shrub and very different from anything I have seen before.

Beautiful picture there Boot. Nice to see a full size shot of it. Everything I googled just showed mainly the flowers. Bet that spectacular to see all those blooms like that at once.

Rebecca, you should take a road trip down here to the SF bay area...they're all over the place at nurseries around here, especially in the spring when they're in bloom but even now you would find a bunch. I love 'Dark Shadows'...just got it this year and it has the most gorgeous foliage of any of the leptospermum's I've seen. I've never tried to propagate them though so sorry can't help you there! Cuttings would definitely be the best way for the named cultivars since they might not come true from seed, and I've also found many of the Australian natives that I've tried are a bit tricky to start from seed (at least I haven't had a high success rate) so even for straight species cuttings may be easier.

Well I was surprised to find my seed did germinate. I put out a round dish type planter, about 12 inch size, filled with half sand and perlite. I sprinkled the seed on top, watered it in and sprinkled sand on top to barely cover. I stuck it outside in a cold frame in the shade. I checked it today and I have lots of seedlings. And my cuttings in half sand, half perlite in the greenhouse with bottom heat have some roots. I had little hope and am surprised that I got good results on both.
Ercane, I did live in the bay area for years and grew leptos there. If I ever do get down there I will be coming home with a car full, I am sure.
Just some general information on leptos for people not familiar with them. The deer totally leave them alone, they are evergreen and they can stand a little frost, some will take temps as low as 20 degrees. They bloom twice a year for me here, they are in bloom now, the bigger display being in early summer. But a few flowers most of the time. And if anyone is going to propage from seed, I did hear that the double flowers are sterile. Of course I found that out after I tried, I did not know what the seed looked like and must have planted chaff. This time I had the seed and much better results.
Ercane, is there a chance you can get some in 4 inch pots, I would be really happy to pay plus shipping and/or do a trade for some varieties I do not have? The gallons would be expensive to ship, but smaller pots would be awesome.
Rebecca

If I run across any in 4 in pots I would be happy to...but all I ever remember seeing at the nurseries that I go to are the 1 and 5 gallons unfortunately! I will keep my eye out though and let you know if I find any.

Thanks, sometimes you can catch a nursery when they get in an order, lots of them order plugs or smaller pots. I really love leptos and feel I need to have them all. Well, you guys know how that works. Its really an addiction but a good one!
rebecca