Adenostoma fasciculatum

Cultivation Details

Adenostoma fasciculatum is a plant of semi-arid to fairly moist areas of the warm temperate and subtropical zome of southwest N. America. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 250 - 1,000mm, and the temperature can range from 0 - 38°c. In the drier, more southerly section of its range, with a rainfall not exceeding 500mm, it occurs abundantly on all slopes and exposures and grows on deep, fertile soils as well as shallow, rocky ones. As precipitation increases farther northward, it is largely restricted to the poorer soils and the drier, more exposed sites^[1]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain and do not withstand exposure to prolonged winter frosts though they succeed outdoors in the milder areas of the country^{[2, 3]}. In colder areas they are best grown against a south or south-west facing wall^[3]. Requires a sheltered sunny position in a well-drained soil^{[2, 3]} and protection from cold winds^[3]. Established plants are very drought tolerant^[1]. The leaves are resinous and catch fire easily^[4]. They have a pleasant aroma^[3]. The plant rejuvenates its crown by continually producing new sprouts from the base, where there is an established lignotuber. The lignotuber is only just below soil level and is often damaged by fire, hence many plants do not recover after the fire, those that do sprout vigorously from surviving adventitious buds on the lignotuber. The plant does, however, usually produce lots of seedlings after a fire^[1]. Plants resprout freely from the base if cut down for materials etc^[1]. Plants can commence bearing seed when only three years old^[1]. Plants are believed to live around 100 - 200 years^[1].