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Tree of the Week: Why the evergreen primose earned the name ‘cow itch tree’

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The Primrose Tree -- Lagunaria patersonii

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Norfolk Island, which brought us the Norfolk Island Pine, shares the birthright to the Primrose Tree with Australia.

The first thing you notice about this tree are the gray leaves, about the shade of olive tree leaves. This will never be a green-leafed tree. The second thing is that you may not notice the tree all year until it is full bloom. Then you may suddenly wonder where the two-inch-wide pink or purple flowers with the long protruding yellow stamens, closely resembling those of the related hibiscus, came from.

The genus was named for Andres Laguna, the 15th century botanist, and the species for the 18th century British naturalist William Patterson. Those names at least are a lot better than the unfortunate name of ‘cow itch tree’ it acquired, bastardized from the Indian ‘cowage,’ and in addition applying to a different plant, Mincuna imbricata. But it is true that fine hairs in the seed capsules may irritate, so sensitive people, small children and pets should not handle the seed pods.

In youth the evergreen primrose tree grows fairly fast and narrow, to 25-plus feet, but in later life it may get broad-topped. The bark is smooth and gray. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and oval. They are olive green above and gray green below, and densely cover the tree. Pink or purple hibiscus-like flowers make the tree stand out in bloom; they fade to almost white. Royal Purple has purple flowers.

Flower arrangers love the brown seed capsules. These hang on for a long time, then split into five sections, revealing bright brown or orange seeds and the itchy hairs.

The tree will take drought, a variety of soils, heat, open wind, salt spray and a little frost. The bloom is best when still somewhat subject to coastal conditions. I have never seen the tree become very popular, but I have never seen it go out of style, either.

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--Peter Severynen

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