DECORATIVE shrubs, trees and ground cover propagated, grafted and grown in Nyah have been designed to withstand harsh Mallee conditions.
The centrepiece of the Calder Nurseries Australia collection is the Dam Red, or callistemon vemanalis, a chance hybrid of two bottlebrush varieties.
Over the last 10 years, permaculturist Russell Calder has watched the original Dam Red develop into what he called a fairly special plant.
“It flowers twice per year in the spring and summer, so it is in flower pretty much year-round except winter, which is unusual for callistemons,” he said.
“The red flowers are massive to the point the foliage is almost completely obscured.
“It’s suitable for many purposes, as a feature or hedging, and has maintained its own size since reaching just over two metres high with a spread of one to two metres with no pruning, apart from taking cuttings.”
Mr Calder has honed his grafting technique over 35 years to make his favourite varieties suitable to the Mallee climate.
“I have always liked the Robyn Gordon grevillea but it doesn’t grow well here, it needs silky oak or grevillea robusta roots to survive,” he said.
“Not only do you get the benefit of purchasing plants with lower carbon miles and freight costs, we’re also able to grow a broad range of plants you wouldn’t otherwise be able to, that are more suited to our climate and are hardened off to survive.”
Mr Calder has also acquired critically endangered Wollemi pines which he plans to propagate for sale.
With low-impact and organic principles driving the Calder projects, the nursery was designed to maximise resources and reduce waste.
The nursery stock is a combination of grafted and propagated seedlings, with the mother stock planted in returned IBCs filled with nutrient-dense spent soil from the Stimulator worm beds for sturdy cuttings.
The seed stock is planted into square pots as opposed to round, so there are fewer gaps between the pots where they are laid out for watering under the automatic sprinkler system.
Calder Nurseries Australia seedlings are now available for purchase at Rhimahden Nursery, Swan Hill.
