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Stenanthera pinifolia

pine heath

Ericaceae

Eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria)

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Stenanthera pinifolia, also placed in the genus Astroloma spp., is a low evergreen shrub in the heath family, growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall and spreading 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) wide. The narrow, needle-like leaves are linear and stiff, 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, ending in a sharp point, and resemble short pine needles, the source of the common name. From autumn through spring, tubular flowers 0.8-1.2 inch (2-3 cm) long open in the leaf axils along the stems. The flowers are orange-red to yellow, sometimes with a greenish tip, and the narrow tube holds nectar at its base. Small fleshy fruits follow flowering. The shrub grows in heathland and open forest on sandy, low-nutrient soils across eastern Australia, where it tolerates exposure and seasonal dryness. It grows slowly and can be short-lived in heavy or poorly drained soils. The needle foliage and long flowering season suit it to low borders, rockeries, and native heath plantings. Plants are sensitive to phosphorus and decline if fed with standard high-phosphorus products.

Native Range

Stenanthera pinifolia is native to eastern Australia, occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It grows in coastal heathland, sandy woodland, and open forest on nutrient-poor, well-drained soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in rockeries, low native borders, and coastal heath gardens on sandy soils. The needle foliage and cool-season flowers suit container culture in free-draining mixes. Sensitivity to phosphorus and poor drainage limits its use in fertile or heavy garden beds.

How to Identify

Identify pine heath by its stiff, needle-like leaves 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long that taper to a sharp point and resemble short pine needles. Tubular orange-red to yellow flowers 0.8-1.2 inch (2-3 cm) long sit in the leaf axils through the cooler months. The combination of needle foliage on a low shrub and slender nectar-bearing tubes separates it from co-occurring heath species that carry bell-shaped flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering extends from autumn through spring, with the heaviest display in winter in warmer districts. Tubular orange-red to yellow flowers open along the stems over many weeks. Small fleshy fruits ripen after the flowers fade.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

orange-red to yellow

Foliage Description

green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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 Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky

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

Grow Stenanthera pinifolia in full sun to part shade on sandy, sharply drained, low-nutrient soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Water during establishment, then occasionally, as established plants tolerate seasonal dryness. Use low-phosphorus or native-specific fertiliser only, since the roots are sensitive to phosphorus. Mulch lightly with a coarse, open material to protect surface roots without holding excess moisture. Growth is slow, and plants establish more reliably in raised or gritty beds than in heavy clay.

Pruning

Prune lightly after the main flowering flush to maintain a compact shape. Tip pruning of young growth encourages density. The shrub responds poorly to hard cutting into bare old wood, which is slow to reshoot.