Boronias successful cut flowers

Press, 26 January 1979, Page 7

Boronias successful cut flowers

There are more than 90 recognised species of Boronia, a genus of shrubs which are indigenous to Australia; but only a few of them are generally available from local nurseries. Distinguishing features include flowers which have four petals and eight stamens and are predominantly globose. Many are sweetly scented and produce an abundance of bloom which is popular for cut flowers. The leaves are pinnate, rather small and narrow. Boronia megastigma (Brown Boronia) is one of

the most widely grown species in cultivation. This West Australian shrub bears yellow-purplish flowers which appear in June and which may continue to appear until October. It is very sweetly and heavily scented and somewhat shorter lived than the others; height 1 to 1.5 m. There are several forms available including “Pop’s Red” which has deep maroon-red flowers which are golden green inside. B. heterophylla is known as the Red Boronia and is again indigenous to West Australia. It forms a

bushy dark green plant up to 2m high, with masses of deep red bell-shaped

flowers and is considered by many growers to be the finest boronia of them all. This species requires more water during dry periods than the others. B. denticulata, the Pink

Boronia, is fairly robust growing to about 2m. It is one of the few scentless boronias and carries a profusion of the starshaped, pinky-mauve flowers in late spring. The foliage is larger and somewhat paler than the others.

B. lutea, commonly known as the Yellow Boronia, has light green foliage and yellow, scented flowers. This shrub reaches a height of about 1.5 m and is a little easier to grow than most of the others.

B. pinnata or Pinnate Boronia is found in the

eastern and southern Australian states. It predominates in mountainous country in its wild state and is somewhat similar to the Red Boronia. Its flowers are paler, whitebased, distinctly perfumed, and appear as terminal sprays. The foliage is light green, open and ferny. Rare oils have been extracted from the flowers. It grows 1.5 to 2m tall.

Boronias can be easily raised from seed; and cutings, 300 mm long taken in autumn from semi-ripe wood, are not too difficult to root.

-. ■ ■ ■ GARDENING

By

M. Lusty