Bedfordia spp.
blanketleaf
Overview
Bedfordia spp. is a small genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the sunflower family Asteraceae, native to southeastern Australia. Plants grow as erect shrubs to small trees 6-30 feet (1.8-9 m) tall, with stout, sparingly branched stems. Leaves are alternate, narrow to broadly lance-shaped, 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long, dark green above and densely white- to rusty-woolly beneath, the wool also coating the young stems. Small yellow flower heads, about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across, hold only disk florets and hang in short clusters in the upper leaf axils. Flowering occurs mainly in spring. The heads are followed by small seeds tipped with a pappus of hairs that carry them on the wind. Plants are evergreen and grow at a moderate rate, forming an open, upright outline. B. arborescens is the tallest species, reaching small-tree size in sheltered wet forest, while others stay shrubby. Leaf undersides keep their dense wool year-round.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, including Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales. Plants grow in cool, moist eucalypt forest, rainforest margins, gullies, and along streams, mostly on fertile, well-drained soils in sheltered, humid sites.Suggested Uses
Grown in cool-climate and woodland gardens, fern gullies, and moist shrub borders for the contrast of dark green leaves with white woolly undersides, spaced 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) apart. B. arborescens is used as a small upright tree in sheltered, humid gardens. Plants need cool, moist, sheltered conditions and are unsuited to hot, dry, or windy sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 30'
Width/Spread5' - 15'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from September to November in the native range and in spring in cultivation. The clustered yellow heads open over several weeks. Wind-borne seeds with hairy pappus follow through late spring and summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark green above, white-woolly beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in part shade to full sun in moist, fertile, well-drained soil and favour cool, humid, sheltered positions like their native forest gullies. Steady moisture suits them, and they suffer in hot, dry, or exposed sites where the foliage scorches. The hardier species withstand about 20 F (-7 C) and tolerate cool mountain conditions. Shelter from strong wind protects the soft, woolly new growth. Few pests are troublesome in suitable conditions. Plants are propagated from seed or cuttings and need little routine care once established in the right site.Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering to shape plants and remove damaged or straggly growth. Plants tolerate tip pruning but resprout slowly from old, bare wood, so hard cutting back is generally not done. Removing lower branches lifts B. arborescens into a small single-stemmed tree.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons