In these days when strong winds are making their presence felt throughout the country, we present a series of shrubs well adapted to this climatic condition.
Wind causes dehydration in vegetation, dries out the soil, and due to its mechanical action can damage or break parts of plants. In areas near the sea, the wind also carries sea salt, which is also very harmful to species that are not adapted.
The defense mechanisms developed by plants in some cases have strengthened the tissues of branches and trunks. In other cases, they have developed more flexible branches and stems that adapt to the movement of the wind. And in the most extreme cases they have limited their height growth and have adopted more compact rounded shapes.
In addition, most of the protective mechanisms against lack of water also help these species withstand the dehydration generated by wind, such as thickened leaves and the presence of waxes or hairs to control moisture loss.
At Sala Graupera we can find a wide range of plants resistant to sea breeze and salinity. Among them, in this first post, we highlight **_Templetonia retusa_** , a shrub with small leaves and bright red flowers, which blooms at this time.
This species belongs to the Fabaceae family and is native to southern and western Australia, where it forms scrubland in coastal dunes. The name Templetonia is in honor of the Irish botanist of the 18th century, John Templeton, who conducted numerous studies in Australia for the Kew Botanical Garden, and retusa refers to the morphology of its leaves.
There are several common names in English for this species, but the most used is flame bush in reference to the color and arrangement of its flowers.
It is a compact evergreen shrub that reaches a height and width between 100-150 cm. The leaves are simple, leathery, and a matte olive green color.
The flowers stand out among the plant mass and are formed by four red or orange petals, which later give rise to pod-shaped fruits. The flowering period takes place between January and April.
It is a plant that has been cultivated for a long time in Australia for its adaptation to the most adverse climatic conditions. In addition, it does not need much care and is very resistant to pests and diseases.
Templetonia prefers to grow in full sun and tolerates weak frosts, with temperatures down to -5ºC. Its natural habitat is the dry Mediterranean climate, however it can survive in more humid climates as long as the soil is well-drained. It has a preference for calcareous substrates with medium texture.
It is a very useful and versatile species for sustainable gardening projects in beachfront areas.
Imágenes: jardinexotiqueroscoff.com / northqueenslandplants.com / 3.bp.blogspot.com