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![Image of Kunzea ericoides The Fonz ['Ifkuli19'] PPAF](https://www.smgrowers.com/imagedb/Kunzea-The-Fonz.jpg )
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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles) |
| Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: NA |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Synonyms: [Leptospermum ericoides cv.] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F |
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Kunzea ericoides The Fonz ['Ifkuli19'] PPAF (Dwarf Kanuka) - A tight compact foliage plant to 2 feet tall by up to 4 feet wide with slightly pendulous red stems bearing soft needle-like fresh lime green aromatic leaves. The Kunzea ericoides typically has white flowers and this plant may yet produce them, but after several years of trials we have yet to see this decorative foliage plant produce any flowers and it has not been known to do so elsewhere. Plant in full to part sun in a well drained soil. Irrigate regularly to occasionally - we are still testing it to see its tolerance to lower irrigation regimes. It is hardy to 10 to 15° F. This should prove to be a very nice plant as a potted specimen, as an interesting accent plant in a tight spot in the garden or mass planted as mid level ground cover. Kunzea ericoides is typically a large shrub or small tree that grows primarily towards the north end of the South Island of New Zealand and is most common near the town of Nelson, but the species is extremely variable and may be a complex involving several species. Adding confusion to all of this is that Kunzea ericoides was first described as a species of Leptospermum as Leptospermum ericoides and some still list it as such. The name for the genus honors Gustav Kunze, a German entomologist, botanist and professor of zoology with the specific epithet a reference to the similarity of the plant's habit to that of Erica arborea. The Fonz is an extremely compact selection that was discovered as a witches broom-like sport on a plant growing n the Nelson area. It was propagated and trialed in New Zealand in Malcolm Woolmore's KiwiGoldŽ Collection of plants and we began trialing it for PlantHaven in 2020, who is marketing it in the with a US plant patent applied for. Pictures and more information can be found about it on the Plant Haven website. The first sale of The Fonz in the US occurred on October 8, 2022 when a plant went to the high bid of $350 at the Lotusland Exceptional Plant Auction.
The information about Kunzea ericoides The Fonz ['Ifkuli19'] PPAF displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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