B E R N E C K E R ' S N U R S E R Y

Satinleaf continues to be in the development stages at Bernecker's.

Satinleaf: another specialty crop

For the last three years Bernecker's Nursery Inc. has had a new specialty foliage crop under development -- Chrysophyllum oliviforme, or satinleaf.

Traditionally it is a tropical landscape plant, but trials show it can withstand interiorscape conditions. Leaves are dark green and glossy on top and fuzzy cinnamon-brown on the undersides.

"It is somewhat of a disappointment, not because it won't hold up indoors, but that it's very difficult to produce in a consistent shape," said Robert Bernecker. "It wants to be a wild plant and grow either to the right or to the left. Very few are those primo symmetrical plants that are so desirable."

Bernecker's continues to work with the crop, hoping to develop better production techniques for satinleaf.

. © 2000 Branch-Smith Publishing