Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ – choosing to flower from Autumn to Spring
I am always amazed when my Correa begins flowering just as everything else in the garden is shutting down for the winter. The flowers appear in mid October and continue through to March.
Correa 'Ivory Bells'
I have had mine for four years and keep it in a pot where it is quite slow growing. In winter I stand it near the house where it is a little more sheltered. Outside it has survived temperatures down to -10C (14F) but not for a prolonged period. My area gets heavy frost but only for a few days at a time. In colder areas it would need to be kept under glass for the winter.
It is evergreen, growing just over a metre tall (4 feet). It has neat, round, glossy leaves that are almost white underneath. New growth has a pale brown felt like covering on the stems and under the leaves.
Correa 'Ivory Bells' - leaves
Correa 'Ivory Bells' - underneath the leaves
The flowers are creamy white bells fading to a biscuit brown. They too have a light felty coating when you look closely. There is another similar cultivar called ‘Dusky Bells’ which is deep pink.
Correa 'Ivory Bells'
Cuttings can be taken in June or July. Mine took ages to root and some failed, so I would take more than you need. No doubt every one of yours will root and you will have a plant surplus – but that’s a problem for another day!
Correa 'Ivory Bells'
There are 10 to 20 species of Correa, which are native to Australia and Tasmania, plus a number of cultivars. It is also known as the Australian Fuchsia for obvious reasons. They are drought tolerant, suitable for shade or light sun and the flowers are mostly pink or white. Those interested in plant history might like to know that the genus Correa was named after Jose Francisco Correa De Serra (1750-1823) a botanist from Portugal. Don’t you love it when a plant is put in a context. Suddenly it acquires a history all of its own.
18 comments
That’s a new one on me – I’ll have to look it up – I wonder if there are any white or cream ones without that slight hint of p*nk yours has?!
What a charming little shrub. It is one I’m not familiar with either!
I’ve become quite a fan of correas… They thrive in my area of California and bloom in winter! That’s always a big plus, especially in the no-summer-water area outside the window of my office – directly in front of my computer :~D
I grow C. ‘Carmine Bells’, and it has been slow to take off. I think once it’s truly established, it will grow well and spread widely. Cheers!
Alice
Correa is a new one to me too. I will be keeping my eyes open for it though. I do like the history and who the plants were named for. I wish I could remember them all though.
I saw your veggie post and must say that cabbage is simply awesome! I like your note how a cabbage mysteriously expands its space. I myself can never figure out where it all comes from either.
Very interesting to learn about this plant… sweet blooms and I love the underside of the leaf too. Correa … what a lovely sounding name.
Thanks for educating me, I never heard of this plant. Lovely blooms and yes, remind fuchsia flowers.
That looks like a lovely winter plant. Nice to have something that flowers when everything else dies back.
I don’t know this plant at all…but then, it is from Australia! It’s lovely… I wonder if they sell it in California? I love the phrase ‘kept under glass’…a perfect description! gail
The flower is pretty, but what a lovely leaf! So neat and tidy looking…
SO pretty!
K
Thats an interesting white fushia. Wonder if has a very strong fragrance. Most white coloured flowers do.
It’s a pretty plant: the leaves remind me of the manzanita family. I wonder how it would do in the ground in an 8b zone with plenty(!) of winter rain but warm, generally dry summers?
It’s always nice to have a plant that blooms when alot of things are long since spent.
That’s a lovely plant. Our local nursery has a giant one in one of their greenhouses. I thought they were too tender to have outside around here, but you’ve got me thinking…
I’m trying to work out the size. How long are the flowers?
Lucy
I didn’t know this plant…
At first sight, I thought it to be it a member of the Ericaceae, but it seems to be a member of the bedstraw-family!
Oh what a delicate little beauty. I have read about these and debated and debated. I had not realised that that the underneath of the leaves were so attractive until seeing your photo. Any plant that flowers for so long especially overwinter must be worth its weight in gold. I will have to give this plant some more serious consideration !
Leave a Comment