Boronia Blue Waves 140mm

Where to buy a Boronia Heterophylla in Australia?

Why we're glad you asked as we do our best to have a steady supply of Boronia Heterophylla in stock. 

Boronia Heterophylla Introduction

Sweet scented, and famous for its prolific colourful blooms, the Boronia heterophylla is a must have for plant lovers, especially for Native Australian Gardens, but it’s also well suited to Cottage or Mediterranean garden designs. Also known as Kalgan Boronia, the plant is an easy growing shrub endemic to Western Australia. It is commonly found in the Jarrah Forests of Esperance and Swan Coastal Plains. Abundant blooming occurs throughout September to November and today with many hybrids it can be found in almost any colour. Left unpruned in its natural habitat Boronia can grow to a height of 1.3m. Fresh looking foliage shows variability in shapes ranging from, simple narrow to finely divided. Slight bitter aroma from crushed leaves reminds of its origins to the Rutaceae family. Waxy Bell-shaped flowers are a treat to the eyes in cut flower decoration and they are a popular choice for florists. Being a Native they are well adapted to the Australian climate and are a relatively low-maintenance option for Australian gardens.

Boronia Heterophylla Planting

Boronia can be placed in courtyards as patio and container plants or grown in glass houses. Regular pruning and maintenance make it a good screening plant. When planting in pots try to use lime free soil. The plant habit is quite soft in all parts making it a dense grower. But it turns hardy due to cold temperatures.

Boronia heterophylla Lighting & Position

Naturally occurring in the Western Australian forests, Boronias prefer partial to deep shade. If grown in a glass house, it should be shaded from the hot sun and have adequate ventilation. Boronia’s are moderately tolerant to frost and can withstand temperatures as low as -4 ͦC.

Boronia Heterophylla Watering

The roots of the Boronia is water loving and prefers to have a cool root system. They prefer regular watering especially during summer. Boronia’s can’t tolerate extreme hot winds or drought, thus mulching or shade from nearby vegetation should be provided during extreme hot weather. During initial planting, whilst becoming established the soil should be thoroughly watered. Watering should be done sparingly in winter.

Boronia Heterophylla Fertiliser

Whilst a relatively low maintenance plant, to encourage growth and prolific blooming you can give a monthly application of phosphate free fertilizer. When applying compost it prefers ericaceous compost (lime free).

Boronia Heterophylla Propagation

Seed propagation can be attempted during the spring season. Alternatively, Boronias can be easily propagated from stem cuttings. It’s better to use young stem tips that are half ripe.

Boronia Heterophylla Vulnerability To Pests & Disease

The Boronia, like many Australian Natives is hardy and well adapted to the Australian climate, as well as resistant to pests and disease. No serious pest or diseases have been noted for the Boronia, but in Glasshouses red spider mite can be a problem if growing under glass.

Popular Boronia Heterophylla Varieties

Boronia heterophylla enjoy dozens of hybrids with a wide variety of colours. The most popular is perhaps the Boronia Magenta Star, with striking rich pink Waxy Bell-shaped flowers. Other popular varieties include Boronia Blue Waves (bluish/purple flowers), Boronia Purple Jared (redish/purple flowers) and Boronia Ice Charlotte (white flowers) but there are many more!

Boronia Heterophylla Design Tips

Boronias are really all about their beautiful and prolific waxy bell-shapes flowers! The foliage itself is typical of an Australian shrub with small leaves adapted to avoid the harshness of the Australian sun, which aesthetically are not remarkable. In a drought tolerant Native garden, amongst billy buttons, kangaroo paws, banksias and grevilleas they’ll fit right in! If you’re going for a more lush garden design it could be worth surrounding with plants with larger foliage where it plays a supporting role when not in bloom but pops and becomes a star when in flower. Another design option is to use in a manicured Native garden design, where Westringia can be used in round hedge and cloud forms with Boronias playing a supporting role and adding interest when they bloom. If in pots, choosing pots with opposite colours can be a great option with Terracotta pots being perfect for varieties like the Boronia Blue Waves!

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