Descriptions of Registered Cultivars
NOTE: Also known as Crowea 'Starlight'
ORIGIN: Crowea 'Cooper's Hybrid' is a cross between C. exalata and C. saligna. It arose as a seedling in the garden of Mrs R Cooper of Turramurra, NSW in 1983. The cultivar was first received by the Authority in March 1987. Registration applied for by Mr N Kirby of Yellow Rock Native Nursery, Winmalee, NSW.
DESCRIPTION: This cultivar is a dense shrub with erect branches and an upright habit. The leaves are dark glossy green, 30mm to 35mm long by up to 4mm wide. It grows to 1.5m tall by 1m wide. The flowers occur from November to May, though occasional flowers may be found at other times of the year. They are a deep pink and up to 30mm across.
DIAGNOSIS: Crowea 'Cooper's Hybrid' can be distinguished from a similar cross, Crowea 'Festival', by its more upright habit and paler pink flower colour. The petals are narrower and more pointed. Crowea 'Poorinda Ecstasy', a similar cross, has obovate leaves instead of the narrow elliptical to elliptical leaves of the previously mentioned hybrids.
CULTIVATION NOTES: Crowea 'Cooper's Hybrid' should be grown under similar conditions as C. exalata. It has been proven as frost hardy and moderately drought hardy. The cultivar must be grown by vegetative means to preserve the cultivar form.