Wishy Washy

from the late Marilyn Vanderbergh of Cooktown Queensland, officially known as Cooktown Queen (Sacred Gardens). Originally named Wishy-Washy because of its unusual habit of color change due to cooler or warmer temperatures. Wishy Washy is a single large tree in a riverside park in Cooktown. It glowed every second year there. The tree is more or less guarded there by the locals and police. Marilyn named it because the colours were Wishy Washy. Flowers that open in warmer weather are a deep, sizzling pink with a swirl of gold, orange, and red in the center. However, those that open in cooler weather are a total, yet very pretty pastel. On days of fluctuating weather, one sees flowers of such variance together on the same inflorescence. 3.5- 4” and a sweet fragrance. The distinctive part of wishy washy is how the petals are separated at the tube. Great blooming Australian variety. 3” Yellow, pink and multicolor flowers on a medium tree. Good upright grower. Strong rose scent. Wide and Spreading growth. Reasonably Dense clusters, free flowering. Acuminate, elliptic, mid green leaves. Green veins with red leaf edge. Petiole green / brown and smooth (glabrous). White, yellow and cerise, center is yellow with orange stripe to one side. Pink / Cerise / White on outer 60% of petal—varies. Back is fine line of yellow fading to white then thick band of pink. Slight veins. Leaves are acuminate with pointed tip, no overlap. Dark orange stripe to one side of petal in center is unusual. Scent is MediumStrong, similar to Ponds Cold Cream. Pink buds. Easy to root. Found only in Cooktown as a local variety. Profuse early bloomer. Tall.