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Crowea saligna

willow-leaved crowea

Rutaceae New South Wales, Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Crowea saligna is a small evergreen shrub in the citrus family, reaching 12-40 inches (30-100 cm) tall and 24-40 inches (60-100 cm) wide with an upright to rounded habit. The narrow, willow-like leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long, smooth, mid to deep green, and aromatic when crushed, with oil glands typical of the family. Star-shaped flowers 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across open from five waxy pink petals, carried singly along the stems mainly in autumn and into winter. The flowers last well on the plant, and a single shrub can carry blooms over two to three months. Small dry fruits follow but are inconspicuous. Growth is moderate, and plants reach full size in three to four years. The species needs sharp drainage and is sensitive to root disturbance and prolonged wet soil.

Native Range

Native to New South Wales in eastern Australia, mainly in the Sydney region and adjacent ranges. It grows in open forest and heath on sandstone, typically on well-drained sandy or rocky soils in dappled light.

Suggested Uses

Used in native gardens, rockeries, and shrub borders on well-drained soils, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Suits containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L) with free-draining mix. The long autumn-to-winter flowering brings colour when many shrubs are dormant.

How to Identify

Recognized by narrow willow-like leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long that are aromatic when crushed, and by star-shaped pink flowers 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across with five waxy petals in autumn and winter. The flowers sit singly along the stems rather than in clusters. The aromatic citrus-scented foliage and waxy five-petalled flowers separate it from similar pink-flowered heath shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'4"

Width/Spread2' - 3'4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

pink

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Fall Winter

Flowers mainly in autumn and early winter (March to June), with scattered blooms at other times in mild climates. Individual flowers last one to two weeks, and the shrub flowers over two to three months. Light flushes can appear in spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

mid to deep green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Sun

Requires 3-6 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 Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-4 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part shade to filtered sun on sharply drained sandy or gravelly soils that are slightly acid and low in phosphorus. Regular light watering suits it in dry spells, but the roots rot in heavy, wet, or poorly drained soil. It performs poorly in deep shade and in hot, exposed full sun, and grows well with morning sun or dappled light. Tip pruning after flowering keeps the shrub compact and prevents the open, woody growth that develops with age. Low-phosphorus native fertilizer can be applied lightly in spring. Root-rot fungi are the main cause of plant loss on heavy soils.

Pruning

Light tip pruning after the main flush, and again lightly through the year, keeps the shrub dense and rounded. The plant tolerates pruning into green wood but reshoots slowly from bare older stems. Regular light trimming is more reliable than occasional hard cutting back.

Pruning Schedule

winter