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Brachyloma spp.

brush-heath

Ericaceae Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Brachyloma spp. is a genus of about twelve to fourteen evergreen shrubs in the heath family (Ericaceae), endemic to Australia and formerly placed in the family Epacridaceae. Species occur across southern and eastern Australia in heathland, sandy coastal scrub, and dry sclerophyll woodland. The plants are small to medium shrubs 8 inches to 6.5 feet (0.2 to 2 m) tall, with rigid, small leaves 0.1 to 0.6 inch (3 to 15 mm) long arranged along wiry stems. The flowers are tubular, 0.1 to 0.3 inch (3 to 8 mm) long, white to cream or pink, with a band of hairs inside the tube, and are borne singly or in short spikes in the leaf axils. Flowering occurs mainly from winter into spring. The fruit is a small dry drupe. Brachyloma spp. grows in nutrient-poor, sharply drained acidic sands and tolerates extended dry periods once established, but is intolerant of waterlogging and high soil phosphorus. Like many Australian heaths, it is seldom cultivated outside its native range and can be slow to establish.

Native Range

Brachyloma spp. is endemic to Australia, distributed across the southern and eastern states from coastal heath to inland sandy woodland. Several species are concentrated in southeastern Australia and in the southwest of Western Australia.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native, coastal, and water-wise gardens, in rockeries, and in heathland-style plantings within its native range. Lower species suit groundcover and rockery pockets, while taller species form light informal screens. Spacing of 24 to 48 inches (60 to 120 cm) suits most forms.

How to Identify

Identify Brachyloma spp. by its small, rigid, often crowded leaves and its short tubular white to pink flowers, each lined inside with a ring of hairs. The flowers sit in the leaf axils, singly or in small spikes, and give way to small dry drupes. The hairy flower tube and heath-like foliage distinguish it from related Australian heath genera such as Leucopogon spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 6'8"

Width/Spread8" - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering occurs chiefly from winter into spring, roughly July to October in the Southern Hemisphere, over about 4 to 6 weeks. The small tubular flowers are white, cream, or pink. In some species a scattered second flush follows in summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to cream or pink

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

sand rocky peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Brachyloma spp. grows in full sun to light shade in sharply drained, sandy or gravelly acidic soils with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. Established plants tolerate drought and need little supplemental water. Waterlogged soils and high phosphorus levels cause root damage, so low-phosphorus native fertilisers are used sparingly if at all. Steady air movement and lean soils reduce fungal problems on the crowded foliage. Frost tolerance varies among species, with lowland forms sensitive to hard frost.

Pruning

Light tip pruning after flowering keeps the shrub compact and encourages bushy growth. Hard pruning into bare old wood often fails to reshoot, so cuts are kept to leafy stems. Spent flowers need no removal.