© Jay, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA) · iNaturalist
Rhagodia spp.
Overview
Rhagodia spp. is a genus of about eleven evergreen shrubs in the family Amaranthaceae, native to Australia, including Rhagodia spinescens and the coastal Rhagodia candolleana. Plants range from low, spreading mounds 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall to upright or scrambling shrubs 3-10 feet (0.9-3 m) high, with wiry, sometimes spine-tipped branches. The leaves are 0.2-1.5 inch (0.5-4 cm) long, thick and somewhat fleshy, gray-green to silvery and often mealy with a powdery coating that reflects light. Small greenish flowers without showy petals are borne in branched sprays, the plants usually carrying separate male and female flowers. Female plants ripen many small, fleshy berries 0.1-0.3 inch (3-7 mm) wide that turn red and are taken by birds. Growth is moderate to fast, and plants tolerate salt, wind, drought, and poor soils once established. They recover well from hard cutting and form dense screens. In shade or wet ground, growth becomes open and sparse and the silvery leaf color fades.
Native Range
Rhagodia spp. is native to Australia, where species occur across most states in semi-arid scrub, coastal dunes and cliffs, saline flats, and dry woodland. Rhagodia candolleana grows on coastal dunes and headlands, while Rhagodia spinescens is widespread on inland plains and along watercourses on clay and loam soils.Suggested Uses
Grown as a low hedge, ground cover, screen, and erosion-control plant on dry, coastal, and saline sites, spaced 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) apart depending on species. The dense, salt-tolerant growth suits coastal and dryland gardens and revegetation. Berries draw birds, while the spreading habit can mound over rocks and walls.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 10'
Colors
Bloom Information
Small greenish flowers appear mainly in spring and summer and are easily overlooked, lacking showy petals. Plants bear separate male and female flowers, and pollination is largely by wind and small insects. Female plants then ripen red berries over the following weeks to months.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
gray-green to silveryGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun on most well-drained soils, including sandy, clay, and saline ground, and need little water once established. They tolerate coastal wind, salt spray, and extended drought, but waterlogged or shaded sites cause open, weak growth and root rot. Light to hard pruning keeps the habit dense, and plants resprout readily from old wood. Frost tolerance varies; Rhagodia spinescens withstands light frost while coastal forms are more tender. Few pests affect the plants, though scale insects can appear on stressed growth.Pruning
Trim lightly at any time to shape the plant, or cut back hard in late winter to renew dense growth, since plants resprout from old wood. Removing wayward or frost-damaged stems keeps a tidy outline. No routine pruning is needed for plant health.Pruning Schedule
winter