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Bellendena spp.
mountain rocket
Overview
Bellendena spp. is a genus in the family Proteaceae containing the single species Bellendena montana, known as mountain rocket and endemic to the alpine and subalpine zones of Tasmania, Australia. It is a small, deciduous to semi-deciduous shrub growing 4-40 inches (10-100 cm) tall, with a low, often spreading form shaped by exposure on mountain slopes. The leaves are small, leathery, blue-green, and variably lobed or wedge-shaped at the tips. Cream to white flowers are carried in short, dense terminal racemes in summer, each flower small with four narrow segments. These are followed by flattened, winged fruits that ripen to shades of red and orange and persist on the plant, becoming the most visible feature in late summer and autumn. Bellendena spp. grows in peaty, gravelly alpine soils that are wet in the growing season and often frozen in winter. It grows slowly and is adapted to cold, exposed, high-rainfall conditions, which makes it difficult to cultivate outside cool montane climates. The genus differs from many related Australian Proteaceae in producing a flattened winged fruit rather than a woody follicle or nut.
Native Range
Endemic to Tasmania, Australia, where it grows in alpine and subalpine heath, herbfields, and rocky slopes, generally above 3,000 feet (900 m).Suggested Uses
Grown mainly in alpine and rock gardens within cool-climate regions, and in specialist collections of Tasmanian and Proteaceae plants. The persistent coloured fruits extend interest into autumn.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 3'4"
Width/Spread8" - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in the southern-hemisphere summer, roughly December to February. Winged fruits develop afterward and colour through late summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Cream to whiteFoliage Description
Blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Bellendena spp. grows in cool, high-rainfall montane climates on acidic, peaty, gravelly soils with sharp drainage. It needs cold winters and reliable summer moisture, and tolerates wind and frost. Plants grow slowly and are intolerant of heat, humidity, and rich soils, which limits cultivation to cool-temperate and alpine gardens. As a member of Proteaceae, it is sensitive to high phosphorus levels, so standard fertilisers can damage the roots. Propagation is mainly from seed, which can be slow and erratic to germinate.Pruning
Little or no pruning is needed on this slow-growing shrub. Any shaping is done lightly after flowering. Hard cutting into old bare wood may not regenerate.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons