BORONIA.
Beautiful though often short-lived Australian shrubs. They come in a variety
of sizes and shapes, with undivided to finely divided leaves and small bell
to star shaped flowers. They are particularly noted for fragrance of the foliage,
the flowers, or both. Most make wonderful cut branches and flowers. They prefer
sun, very well drained soil, and moderate watering. The following are hardy
to 20oF
or less.
crenulata. One of the smaller boronias, usually under 2' high and a little over 3' broad. Its slender stems are lined with undivided leaves, somewhat grey-green in this form, which have a distinct licorice scent. Nestled among them in the cooler months are many bright pink 1/2" blossoms.
denticulata. One of the more modest of the group, but still a pretty shrub. It grows 5-8' tall and is usually taller than wide. In this unnamed selection, the trunks are openly branched, with slender, arching stems. Leaves are narrow and undivided. Star-shaped, light pink blossoms dot the plant much of the year.
heterophylla. Red Boronia. A bushy shrub, growing up to 8' tall (probably 5-6' in this selection). It has slender green stems and narrowly divided 1-2" leaves. Flowers are nodding, bell shaped, and in color deep pink verging on red. It is reputedly more tolerant of heavy soils and overwatering than other species, and in fact requires more moisture. Unfortunately, it is also the tenderest of the species described here.
megastigma. Brown boronia. A 2-3' shrub with light green, heath-like leaves and a winter profusion of cup shaped, wonderfully fragrant flowers, brown outside and bright chartreuse-yellow within.