Brunoniella australis
blue trumpet
Overview
Brunoniella australis is a low perennial herb growing 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) tall from a spreading underground rootstock that sends up scattered shoots. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 0.8-2.4 inches (2-6 cm) long, deep green and roughened by short hairs, arranged in opposite pairs. Blue to mauve trumpet-shaped flowers about 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across open low among the leaves, usually one at a time, through spring and summer. The flowers open in the morning and fade by afternoon. Small capsules follow and split to fling out the seeds. The plant spreads underground to form scattered colonies and dies back to the rootstock in dry or cold conditions, reshooting after rain. It grows in grassland and open forest on a range of soils and stays low among grasses except when in flower.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria. Grows in grassland, grassy woodland, and open eucalypt forest on clay and loam soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in native grassland plantings, rockeries, and informal borders, spaced about 10-16 inches (25-40 cm) apart. Suited to low, mixed plantings among native grasses. The spreading rootstock fills gaps between other plants over time.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 10"
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
Flowers from spring through summer, roughly September to March in its native range. Flowering increases after rain and through the warm months. Each flower lasts less than a day, opening in the morning and fading by afternoon, with new flowers over many weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Blue to mauveFoliage Description
Deep greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on clay and loam soils across a pH range of about 5.5-7.5. Tolerates seasonal dryness once established by dying back to the rootstock and reshooting after rain. Needs occasional water through extended drought to stay in leaf. Spreads underground and can move through a garden bed over several seasons. Snails graze new shoots in wet weather. Frost browns the foliage in colder areas, with regrowth in spring.Pruning
Cut back spent shoots after flowering to tidy the plant. Remove frost-damaged foliage in late winter. The plant reshoots from the underground rootstock in spring.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons