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Bellendena montana

mountain rocket

Proteaceae Tasmania, Australia

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 6–8

Overview

Bellendena montana is a small, deciduous to semi-deciduous alpine shrub growing 6-36 inches (15-90 cm) tall, with a low, rounded to upright form. The leaves are small, 0.4-1.2 inches (10-30 mm) long, wedge-shaped, and often lobed or toothed toward the tip, grey-green in colour. Small white flowers are carried in erect spikes above the foliage in summer. These are followed by flattened, winged fruits 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) long that turn bright red to orange-red in late summer and autumn. The shrub grows in alpine and subalpine heath, herbfield, and rocky sites, and dies back or loses leaves over the cold months. It is adapted to cold, exposed mountain conditions and grows slowly, and is not suited to warm lowland climates.

Native Range

Endemic to Tasmania, Australia, where it grows in alpine and subalpine areas of the central and western mountains. Found in heath, herbfield, and rocky sites above the tree line and in the upper montane zone, in cold, exposed conditions.

Suggested Uses

Grown in alpine troughs, rock gardens, and cool-climate collections with sharp drainage and cool summers. It suits exposed, gritty positions in cold-climate gardens rather than warm or sheltered beds. It carries red to orange-red winged fruits through late summer and autumn.

How to Identify

Recognized by small, wedge-shaped, lobed or toothed grey-green leaves and erect spikes of small white flowers in summer. The flattened, winged fruits that turn red to orange-red in late summer set it apart from co-occurring alpine shrubs. Its low, compact form and Tasmanian alpine habitat aid identification.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 3'

Width/Spread8" - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Flowers in summer, mainly December to February in the Tasmanian mountains, with timing varying by altitude and snow cover. The white flower spikes open over several weeks. Red to orange-red winged fruits follow from late summer into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

peat rocky sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-6 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun in cold, well-drained, gritty or peaty alpine soils and depends on cool summers and cold winters. It is adapted to exposed mountain conditions and grows poorly in warm or humid lowland gardens. Moisture from snowmelt and summer rain supports growth, while sharp drainage prevents the roots from staying wet. Growth is slow, and plants take several years to reach flowering size. It is rarely cultivated outside cool-climate and alpine plant collections. Poor drainage and summer heat are the main causes of failure in cultivation.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed because of the plant's slow, compact growth. Spent flower and fruit spikes can be removed once the fruits have dropped. Any dead or frost-damaged shoots can be trimmed in spring.