PLANTS
PLANTS IN THE
GARDENS DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL PLANTS TO LOOK OUT FOR NEXT TIME YOU VISIT THE GARDENS.
BRAZILIAN RED CLOAK Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Family Acanthaceae An excellent shrub, easy to grow, but burdened with a difficult name! This is a monotypic species – that is, the only species in the genus – and despite its common name, is a native of Venezuela. It always attracts a lot of interest from visitors to the Garden when in flower during late summer through to early autumn. Other members of the Acanthaceae family, so well represented in the Royal Botanic Garden, include Justicia, Eranthemum, Mackaya, Ruellia, Odontonema, Pachystachys and Strobilanthes to name a few. All these genera have species that thrive in our climate with a minimum of attention while giving great satisfaction to the gardener. The most striking feature of this shrub in bloom is not the very small, tubular, white to palest-pink flowers, but the large showy crimson bracts on which they grow. The flowers are not
long-lasting but the floral bracts provide colour in the garden over several weeks. The foliage is always attractive, as the strongly veined leaves are shiny and bright green. It will grow to about 1.5–2 metres high and can be 1–2 metres in width in ideal conditions, making a well-rounded shrub. Even out of flower it provides an excellent background plant for annuals or smaller growing perennial plants. It can also make a good informal hedge or screen, as the foliage is normally quite dense from the top to just above the soil level. Thriving in warmth and high humidity, the Brazilian Red Cloak is well suited to the Sydney climate and other
‘The floral bracts provide colour in the garden over several weeks’
mild frost-free regions, as are so many other related plants in the Acanthaceae family. Ideally it should be grown in a reasonably sheltered position with shade from the hottest afternoon sun in summer. It can be grown in any reasonably well-drained soil. It needs regular deep watering to become established, then occasional deep soakings in dry periods. The root zone should be well mulched, taking care to keep mulch away from the stem. Shrubs should be fertilised in spring and perhaps in early summer if the soil is very porous and sandy. A light pruning to remove spent flower heads is desirable or for shaping. However, generally their growth habit is attractive and needs little attention. The best place to see this shrub is in the Lower Garden near the Mare and Foal Statue. Growing Friends frequently has these plants for sale. Margaret Hanks, Growing Friends, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
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