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Pimelea linifolia

queen of the bush

Thymelaeaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Pimelea linifolia, the slender rice flower or queen of the bush, is a small erect evergreen shrub of the family Thymelaeaceae, native to eastern Australia. It grows 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) tall and 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide, with slender, wiry stems and small, narrow, blue-green leaves arranged in opposite pairs. Through much of the year, and most heavily in spring, the stem tips carry rounded heads of many small white tubular flowers, each head 0.8-1.2 inches (20-30 mm) across and cupped by leafy bracts, sometimes flushed pink. The flowers are followed by tiny dry fruits. P. linifolia grows in heath, open forest, and woodland on sandy, well-drained acidic soils, and tolerates wind and short dry spells but is sensitive to root disturbance and waterlogging. The bark is tough and fibrous, a trait of the family. The foliage and bark contain irritant compounds that are toxic to grazing livestock. It is often short-lived, and its long flowering and compact size have brought it into native and container gardens.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania and South Australia. It grows in heath, dry sclerophyll forest, and woodland on sandy, well-drained soils, from the coast to the tablelands.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native gardens, heath plantings, rockeries, and containers in mild climates. The long flowering supports butterflies and native bees. Cut flowering stems last well in the vase. Its toxic foliage keeps it out of grazed paddocks.

How to Identify

Look for a slender erect shrub with small, narrow, blue-green leaves in opposite pairs and rounded terminal heads of many small white tubular flowers cupped by leafy bracts. The flower heads are about 0.8-1.2 inches (20-30 mm) across and appear over much of the year. The bark is tough and stringy and hard to snap. The paired narrow leaves and bracted white flower heads separate it from other small heath shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering is long, with a strong spring peak but scattered bloom through much of the year in mild areas. The white flower heads are visited by butterflies and native bees. Each head lasts well, opening its small tubular flowers over a couple of weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants need full sun to light shade and sandy, sharply drained, acidic soil. Water young plants through dry spells, then water sparingly, as established shrubs handle short droughts. They rot in heavy or wet soil and are sensitive to root disturbance, so they are planted out small and left undisturbed. A low-phosphorus native feed suits them. Hard frost damages the growth, fitting them to mild climates around USDA zones 9 to 10. Plants are often short-lived and are renewed from cuttings or seed.

Pruning

A light tip-prune after the main flush keeps the shrub bushy and prolongs flowering. Cutting back into bare old wood is slow to reshoot. Pruned tips can be struck as cuttings.

Pruning Schedule

summer

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans