Lottah Nursery Tasmania, Australia
Syn: Preston_30-07-01
Bred by Isabel Preston at Ottawa in 1930 but only introduced in 1951 with name presumed registered in 1953.
Often classified as a x prestoniae hybrid, this is in fact a cross of S. komarowii ssp. reflexa and a lilac mislabelled 'S. wolfii' originating from the Lemoine Nursery in France.
Bearing large clusters of tubular pink flowers resembling those of x prestoniae in late season, it differs from the group in having a repeat crop of flowers in Autumn. Reported to be a compact semi-dwarf shrub growing to 1.8 m.
Has demonstrated no inclination to sucker at the Nursery.
[ILS Journal 32/4 carries the reprint of a 1946 article by Preston which includes some information on the origins of this cultivar.]
(click on thumbnail for larger image)
50401-6791 (1, 8, 4, 4)