I last featured Leptospermum lanigerum. In this article I will be featuring the Leptospermum turbinatum.

Genus: Leptospermum
Species: turbinatum
Common Name: Shiny Tea Tree or Grampians Tea Tree
Flower Colour: White
Foliage Colour: Green
Growth Habit: Shrub to 1.5m
Flowering: Spring

Leptospermum turbinatum is a relatively uncommon cultivar from the Leptospermum family, endemic to Grampian Moutain regions in Western Victoria. Even though it is relatively uncommon, Leptospermum turbinatum is a good choice for temperate area’s, especially in Victoria.

This variety prefers positions with full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Due to the area it is endemic to, the turbinatum is actually quite frost tolerant which makes it also good for cooler climates. Leptospermum turbinatum will also handle a healthy prune after the flowering season, which is spring. However it may be best to light prune it in summer and then prune in more vigorously in early Autumn if you live in an area that experiences hot summers.

A very similar variety is the Leptospermum nitidum, which is endemic to Tasmania. In fact, for many years the turbinatum was thought to be one and the same as the nitidum until it was recently discovered to be a slightly different variety. They both grow in similar environments and so could both be chosen equally. As such, I’d suggest you go with the variety which is endemic to your area, or whichever comes from the closest place to you.

Earlier this month I featured the Leptospermum spectabile, this week I’ll be featuring the Leptospermum lanigerum.

Genus: Leptospermum
Species: lanigerum
Common Name: Woolly or Silky Tea Tree
Flower Colour: White
Foliage Colour: Green
Growth Habit: Shrub to 3m
Flowering: Summer

This variety of Leptospermum is endemic to the southern parts of the east coast of Australia, encompassing Victoria and Tasmania. As this would suggest, it prefers a cool to cold climate, though success in termperate area’s is possible. This variety is not recommended for sub tropical or tropical area’s, though they have been grown along the coast around Brisbane.

When mature the foliage can create a silvery appearance, even though the leaves are green. This, along with the white flowers, makes it a good plant to use around other more colourful varieties because it will help to cause the more colourful feature plants to stand out.

Plant in a sunny position in well draining soil, though this variety will tolerate part shade. This plant will tolerate very wet soils, as long as the do drain. Given the area it is endemic to, this variety actually prefers access to lots of water. There are also varieties available which will grow up to as tall as 18m. Leptospermum lanigerum is a fairly common cultivar available in many native nurseries in and around Victoria and Tasmania.

Last week I featured the Hakea bucculenta, this week I’ll be looking at the Hakea myrtoides.

Genus: Hakea
Species: myrtoides
Common Name: Myrtle Hakea
Flower Colour: Shade of red/pink
Foliage Colour: Green
Growth Habit: Shrub to 0.5m
Flowering: Winter to Spring

This is a great example of a smaller variety of Hakea that you could add to your garden. This variety stays nice and low, growing to around about half a metre in height to a metre at most, and has prolific flowers which makes it a fantastic shrub to plant in and around some of your bigger growing shrubs or feature plants.

This variety can be difficult to grow and requires a dry climate, so is not a good choice for sub tropical or tropical regions. It is endemic to Perth but can even struggle to grow there if Perth experiences a more humid than normal summer, so anywhere that regularly experiences humidity is probably not a good location.

It also requires very well draining soil for it to thrive, but if you can get the right conditions, this variety is a very good choice. I really like the shape of the flowers and the colour contrast between these particular greens and red/pinks. Possibly a variety for the more brave to try and grow, but why not learn by trying!

Last week I featured the Hakea laurina, this week I’ll be looking at the Hakea bucculenta

Genus: Hakea
Species: bucculenta
Common Name: Red Pokers
Flower Colour: Red/Orange
Foliage Colour: Green
Growth Habit: Shrub to 4m
Flowering: Winter to Spring

The Hakea bucculenta is quite a showy plant, mostly due to its roughyl 15cm long orange/red flower spikes. Because of these flowers, this variety will readily attract birds, bees and other wildlife that likes lots of nectar.When the flowers are finished it forms woody seed pods, which you can easily cut off if you don’t like the look. These seeds would only be released in the case of fire or death of the plant.

Though endemic to the central west coast of WA, the Hakea bucculenta has been known to grow in most climates around Australia. It prefers dry sand plains, but can handle both mild frost and humid conditions, though these two climates can limit the growth and flowering ability of this variety.

Like so many varieties of Hakea, the best position for this variety is in a well draining soil (particularly this variety) and full sun. It will tolerate some shade, but this will diminish the showing of flowers come winter/spring.

Last month I featured four varieties of the Australian Native Acacia plant. This month I’ll be taking a look at four varieties of native Hakea’s, which are related to banksias, grevilleas, waratahs and dryandras. The first species that I am going to look at is a little special because it appears to have come into existence by accident and is a hybrid variety of Hakea.

Genus: Hakea
Species: Hybrid of H.myrtoides and H.petiolaris
Common Name: ‘Burrendong Beauty’
Flower Colour: Pink/red
Foliage Colour: Dark Green
Growth Habit: Shrub to 1.5m
Flowering: Winter

Burrendong Beauty is an extremely beautiful variety of Hakea. I myself have not grown it, but I have chosen to feature it first because I could not find a variety whose flowers look quite as spectacular. Very similar to Grevillea’s flowers, the Burrendong Beauty has lots of little red ball like flowers with pink stamens. They flower very prolifically, so from about mid winter you can expect to see your Hakea Burrendong Beauty absolutely covered with these beautiful flowers.

Burrendong Beauty has been known to grow best in Temperate climates, though it can tolerate cooler climates as long as there is only minor front conditions. Sub tropical and tropical regions tend to be too humid for this variety to thrive in.

The best way to see this variety thrive is to plant it in a good, sunny position and make sure the soil it is planted in will drain well. In saying ‘sunny position’, really hot strong periods of weather will knock this variety around, so try and find a spot that has the morning sun and afternoon shade, given that afternoon sun is generally hotter than spots that get the morning sun.