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Richea spp.

richea

Ericaceae

Tasmania and alpine southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 7–9

Overview

Richea spp. is a genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the heath family (Ericaceae), with about eleven species concentrated in Tasmania and a few in mainland southeastern Australia. The genus spans a wide size range, from low alpine shrubs under 3 ft (0.9 m) to R. pandanifolia, a single-stemmed form reaching 30 ft (9 m). The stiff, narrow leaves are sheathing at the base and taper to a sharp point, crowded spirally so that shoots resemble those of a monocot; they range 1-24 in (2.5-60 cm) long across the genus. Flowers are small and packed into dense terminal or axillary spikes in white, cream, orange, pink, or red. A feature of the genus is the fused petals, which separate at the base and lift off as a small cap rather than opening outward. Most species grow in cool, wet, peaty alpine and subalpine habitats with high rainfall and sharp drainage, and they grow slowly. They tolerate poor, acidic soils but fail in dry, alkaline, or heat-prone sites.

Native Range

Richea spp. is endemic to Australia, with the centre of diversity in the cool, wet mountains of Tasmania and outliers in alpine New South Wales and Victoria. Species grow in subalpine heath, moorland, and montane rainforest margins.

Suggested Uses

Grown in cool-climate rock, peat, and alpine gardens, and in moist woodland settings with acidic soil. Taller species such as R. pandanifolia are used as feature plants in cool, high-rainfall gardens.

How to Identify

Stiff, sharp-tipped leaves with sheathing bases crowd the stems in spirals, giving a grass-tree or screw-pine look uncommon among heaths. Flowers cluster in dense spikes, and each bloom sheds its fused petals as an intact cap, leaving the coloured sepals behind. R. pandanifolia is recognised by its single tall trunk topped with long strap-like leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 30'

Width/Spread1' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering runs through spring and summer, roughly October to February in the native range, varying with altitude. The dense flower spikes hold their colour for several weeks, and the shed petal-caps often persist briefly on the spike before falling.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, cream, orange, pink, or red

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 5.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

peat sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Richea spp. needs cool, moist, acidic conditions with high humidity and sharply drained peaty or sandy soils, conditions found in its alpine homeland. A soil pH of about 4.5-5.5 suits the genus, which is intolerant of lime and high phosphorus. Most species grow in full sun to part shade where summers stay cool and moisture is constant. They are slow-growing and resent root disturbance, heat, and prolonged dryness. Outside cool, high-rainfall climates the genus is difficult to maintain in cultivation.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond removing spent flower spikes and dead leaves. The genus does not reshoot reliably from old bare wood, so hard cutting back is avoided and any shaping is limited to young growth.

Pruning Schedule

summerfall