Elegant Hawksbeard
Askellia elegans
Watering:
Minimal
Propagation:
Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting
Hardiness Zone:
Sun:
full sun,part shade
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Thorny:
Yes
Invasive:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Elegant Hawksbeard should be watered deeply about twice a week during the growing months, roughly from April to October. In the winter, it should be watered occasionally, about every 2 to 3 weeks. When you water, make sure the soil is completely saturated, so you may need to do several short waterings rather than 1 long 1. Avoid waterlogging the soil. During hot, dry weather you may need to water more often. The best way to know when to water is to check the soil. If it is dry to a depth of about 2 inches, it is time to water again.
sunlight
Elegant Hawksbeard prefers full sun to partial shade and blooms best when planted in an area with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is tolerant to a wide variety of soils, though it prefers well-draining, sandy, and loamy soil and should be watered regularly during dry periods to prevent wilting. It does best in a cooler climate and is not particularly tolerant to high temperatures and humidity. Therefore, the optimal amount of sunlight for this plant species is 6-9 hours of direct sunlight per day during cooler months.
pruning
Elegant Hawksbeard should be pruned twice a year, in late winter/early spring and late summer. Pruning should be done lightly, in order to maintain the overall shape of the plant, and without cutting back more than 1 third of the current growth. This will help encourage new growth while preserving the overall natural form of the plant. If dead or damaged branches are present, they should be pruned away as well.