Thomasia petalocalyx
paper flower
Overview
Thomasia petalocalyx is an evergreen shrub reaching 1.6-3.3 feet (0.5-1 m) tall and 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) wide, with a low, spreading habit and slender, hairy stems. The leaves are oval to oblong, 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long, wrinkled and covered in star-shaped hairs, with shallowly lobed margins. The flowers hang along the stems on short stalks, each formed from an enlarged, papery, pink to mauve calyx 0.4-0.6 inch (1-1.5 cm) across with small reduced petals inside. The flowers fade to a dry, papery brown and persist on the plant. Flowering runs from winter into spring. It grows in well-drained sandy and gravelly soils and tolerates dry summers once established. The low, open habit can become straggly with age unless trimmed.
Native Range
Native to southern Australia across Western Australia, South Australia, and western Victoria. It grows in heath, mallee, and open woodland on sandy and gravelly soils in well-drained sites.Suggested Uses
Planted in rockeries, native gardens, and on embankments at 2.5-3.3 feet (0.75-1 m) spacing. The low, spreading habit suits the front of borders and sunny slopes. It is not suited to heavy or poorly drained soils.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'7" - 3'3"
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to mauveFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
It grows in full sun to light shade in well-drained sandy or gravelly soils with a pH of 5.5-7.0. Water through the first season to establish; mature plants tolerate dry summers and short drought. It tolerates light frost to about 27°F (-3°C). The plant is short-lived in heavy, wet soils, where root rot develops. Few other pests or diseases affect it.Pruning
Trim lightly after flowering to keep a compact shape. The plant tolerates tip pruning but is slow to reshoot from bare old wood. Unpruned plants become straggly and open at the base over a few years.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons