Verticordia

Myrtaceae

Verticordia

Small shrubs varying from rounded to erect or spreading; variable foliage.

The flowers are 10-15 mm wide and come in various colours, ranging from white to dark pink, with feathery calyces.

Uses

Gardens and as container plants.

Harvested from the wild as cut flowers.

Culture

Needs perfect drainage. Good in composted sandy soils, with mulch and full sun.

Grows well in 50% compost with 50% coarse sand.

Tends to be short – lived in eastern states of Australia, longer WA. Not widely cultivated outside Australia.

Propagation

Propagate from cuttings. Also from seed but many are not viable not readily available.

Cultivars

Around 100 species but not many are in cultivation.

V. chysantha 60 x 50cm Erect shrub with linear leaves with heads of feathery yellow flowers in spring. WA. 

V. densiflora To 2m Variable shrub ranging from small 50 cm shrubs to larger shrubs growing to 2 m high. Small, linear to egg shaped 3mm leaves. Heads of creamy white to mauve flowers in spring and summer. WA. 

V.eriocephala   Syn. V. brownii 60cm x 60 cm Small round shrub with 3mm oblong leaves and white/cream flowers that cover the entire shrub in spring. 

V. drummondii 50 x 30cm Erect, narrow shrub with small oblong to egg-shaped leaves. Pink flowers in summer and autumn.  

V. muelleriana To 1m tall  Small shrub with small round leaves and Mauve/purple flowers in spring. WA.

V. subulata 20cm – 1m high  Small variable shrub with dark green round leaves and yellow/red flowers in spring. 

 

Plant Health

Root rots, can be short lived.

More info

Indigenous to shrub-lands and sand heaths of WA. Some species from tropics. 

 

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