Family: Rutaceae
Common Name: Western Rose

The six species of this genus of small to medium-sized evergreen shrubs, with origins in Western Australia, make excellent garden orna­mentals. They have soft, hairy leaves and pen­dulous flower heads, their stamens protruding from the surrounding green bracts. This genus is unlikely to be available outside its native Australia.

Species

D. augustifolia, pineleaf western rose, grows to 1 m (3 ft). It has pendulous, red flower heads, encased in green, overlapping bracts, which appear from summer to autumn. The narrow, linear leaves have a central groove and rolled edges.

D. grandiflora, large western rose, is an upright shrub, to 2.5 m (8 ft), with egg-shaped, woolly leaves. The large, rose pink flowers, framed by green bracts, appear in winter and spring.

Cultivation

In climates prone to regular frosts, grow in a cool greenhouse or conservatory in pots of soil-based potting compost. Outdoors, these shrubs do well in a well-drained limestone soil or sandy loam, in a warm, sunny spot. Propagate from seed or by cuttings in autumn.

Climate

Zone 9.