Patersonia occidentalis
purple flag
Overview
A tufted, rhizomatous perennial forming clumps 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. Leaves linear and strap-shaped, flat, 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) long and 0.1-0.3 inch (3-8 mm) wide, deep green, arranged in flattened fans from a basal rhizome. Flowers violet to purple, 1.2-2 inches (3-5 cm) across, with three broad spreading outer tepals and three reduced inner tepals, borne on stems 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) tall from a flattened green bract. Each flower opens for a single day, usually collapsing by afternoon; successive flowers open over several weeks. Flowering occurs mainly spring through early summer. Fruit a dry capsule splitting to release dark seeds. Spreads slowly by short rhizomes to form open colonies. Tolerates seasonal waterlogging in winter and dry soils in summer. Foliage browns at the tips during extended drought.
Native Range
Native to southern Australia, including south-western Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales. Grows in heathland, open forest, and seasonally moist sandy soils from coastal lowlands to low foothills.Suggested Uses
Planted in native and cottage borders, rockeries, and containers at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. Suits massed plantings in seasonally moist sites and low-water gardens once established. Grows in containers of at least 3 gallons (11 L) with free-draining mix.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly September through December in its native range, with scattered flowers into summer. Individual flowers last a single day, opening in the morning and collapsing by afternoon. Successive flowers extend the display over 4-8 weeks. Cooler conditions prolong individual flower opening into the early afternoon.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Violet to purpleFoliage 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
Water during the first growing season to establish; established clumps tolerate winter waterlogging and summer drought. Grows in full sun to part shade, flowering more sparsely in shade. Prefers sandy or loamy soils with free winter drainage. Remove spent flower stems at the base after flowering if self-seeding is not wanted. Divide congested clumps in autumn every 3-4 years to maintain vigor. Root rot can develop in soils that stay wet through summer.Pruning
Cut spent flowering stems to the base after flowering to reduce self-seeding. Remove browned outer leaves in late winter before new growth. Lift and divide congested clumps in autumn every 3-4 years. No structural pruning is required.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons