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Plant Information

Ivory Curl
(taken from information provided by Barbara Wintringham)

The Brisbane Botanical Gardens, Mt. Coot-tha, has an extensive collection of pictures and detailed descriptions of their plants.  They also provide information on where to see them.  Here is an example of information, and pictures of the Ivory Curl.

• Plant name genus is Buckinghamia.
• Species is Celsissima.
• Common name is Ivory Curl.
• Family is Proteaceae.
• Origin is North Queensland.
• Location in the Gardens is beside the ring road, opposite the new herbarium.  A small shrub grows beside the back entrance to the Japanese Garden.
• Flowering time is from January to March.
• Habit is bushy tree or shrub covered with long, cream, scented flowers.  They are rich in nectar that attracts bees.
• Leaves are simple elliptical, dark green with carspicious venation, paler and hairy beneath.
• Flowers are dense racemes up to 20 cm long, fragrant and a white/cream color.
• Seeds are Leathery follicles, about 2.5 cm long.
• Fruit is ripe April to July.
• Propagation may be achieved from cuttings or seeds.  From cuttings it can be successful, but slow.  Seeds are easy to germinate and produce plants that flower in three years.  Remove seed from follicle before sewing.
• Other interesting notes would include that it is a hardy and spectacular tree.  It has a rounded canopy of dense foliage, flushed red during periods of growth.  The best looking trees grow in the sun and in well-drained soil.  The Ivory Curl is named after Richard Genville, Duke of Buckingham 1823-1889.