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Spyridium globulosum

basket bush

Rhamnaceae Southern coastal Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Spyridium globulosum is a dense evergreen shrub from the southern coast of Western Australia and South Australia, growing 3–13 feet (1–4 m) tall and sometimes taller in sheltered sites. It has a rounded, bushy habit clothed in small oval leaves 0.4–1 inch (1–2.5 cm) long that are dark green above and grey-white and woolly beneath. Small cream to white flowers are packed into rounded clusters 0.4–0.8 inch (1–2 cm) across at the branch tips, surrounded by soft, woolly, pale floral leaves. Flowering covers the shrub in late winter and spring. Spyridium globulosum grows naturally on coastal limestone, sand, and exposed cliffs and dunes, where it tolerates strong wind, salt spray, and dry, alkaline soils. It is slower to establish on heavy or poorly drained ground. The dense habit and coastal tolerance lead to its use as a windbreak and screening shrub in seaside gardens. It is frost-sensitive when young and suited to mild, largely frost-free coastal climates.

Native Range

Native to the southern coast of Western Australia and South Australia. It grows on coastal limestone, sand dunes, and exposed cliffs and headlands.

Suggested Uses

Spyridium globulosum is used as a windbreak, informal hedge, and screening shrub in coastal gardens on sandy or limestone soils. Its wind and salt tolerance suits it to exposed seaside and dune plantings.

How to Identify

Recognized by small oval leaves 0.4–1 inch (1–2.5 cm) long, dark green above and grey-white and woolly underneath. The cream to white flowers are clustered into soft, woolly, rounded heads 0.4–0.8 inch (1–2 cm) across at the branch tips. Its dense, rounded coastal habit and tolerance of limestone soils help separate it from related inland species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 13'

Width/Spread5' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering occurs in late winter and spring, roughly August to November, when rounded clusters of cream to white flowers cover the branch tips. The woolly pale floral leaves around each cluster persist for several weeks. Light scattered flowering can follow at other times in mild coastal climates.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to white

Foliage Description

dark green with grey-white underside

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Spyridium globulosum grows in full sun on free-draining sandy, limestone, or alkaline soils and establishes well in coastal gardens. It tolerates wind, salt spray, and dry conditions once established, and needs little supplementary water in its native range. Heavy, wet, or poorly drained soils slow its growth and can cause root problems. Young plants are damaged by frost, so the species suits mild, near-frost-free areas. Light annual trimming keeps the shrub dense and compact.

Pruning

Light pruning after flowering keeps the shrub dense and maintains a rounded shape or hedge. It tolerates regular trimming of the outer growth but is slower to recover from hard cutting into old wood. Removing spent flower clusters tidies the plant before the next season.