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Lissanthe strigosa

peach heath

Ericaceae Eastern and southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Lissanthe strigosa is an evergreen shrub growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall with a stiff, much-branched, often spreading form. The leaves are narrow and crowded, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, grey-green, ending in a sharp point and rough to the touch. Small tubular flowers 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) long, white to pale pink, hang in clusters along the branches in late winter and spring; the petal tube is bearded with hairs inside. The flowers are followed by small round fruits about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across that ripen red, with a thin edible flesh carrying a peach-like scent over a single hard stone. The branches are wiry and the foliage is prickly. The plant grows in heath, woodland, and dry forest on well-drained sandy and gravelly soils and tolerates extended dryness once established.

Native Range

Native to eastern and southeastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to South Australia and Tasmania. Grows in heath, woodland, and dry sclerophyll forest on well-drained sandy and gravelly soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in heath gardens, native shrubberies, and low-water plantings on sandy soils, spaced about 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Used as a low filler in informal native borders. The sharp foliage forms a low barrier and limits its use beside paths.

How to Identify

Recognized by crowded narrow grey-green leaves 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long ending in a sharp point, and by small white to pale pink tubular flowers 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) long bearded inside, hanging in clusters along the branches. Red fruits about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across with a peach-like scent follow. The prickly foliage and bearded flower tubes set it apart from other heath shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowers in late winter and spring, mainly July to October in its native range. Flowering follows winter rain and is heaviest in early spring. The small flowers are followed by red fruits ripening in late spring and summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White to pale pink

Foliage Description

Grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 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

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches mature size in three to five years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on free-draining sandy or gravelly soil low in nutrients, at a pH of about 5.0-6.5. Tolerates extended dryness once established and needs little water beyond rainfall in its native climate. Grows poorly in heavy, wet, or fertilized soils, where the roots rot. Establishes slowly and resents root disturbance, so it is usually grown from seed or cuttings, both of which strike slowly. Few pests affect it. The prickly foliage and dense branching build a low thicket over several years.

Pruning

Light trimming after flowering shapes the shrub and keeps it dense. Hard cutting into bare old wood is slow to reshoot. Dead branches can be removed as they appear.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic