The Rebel Gardener

One of the great things about Australian native plants is that there are quite a few that will flower during winter. Correa Dusky Bells is an example. We’re now just one week into winter here in Melbourne and this little plant is just reaching its height of flower.

Correa Dusky Bells

I’ve got two growing together side by side which were propagated from a plant I bought some years ago that is still growing quite happily in my mother’s garden. The flowers are a soft pink colour and the honeyeaters seem to really like them.

This little Correa, just like most Correas is not only a feature when in flower but will also look good and survive with a minimum of water during a long, hot, dry summer.

Correa Dusky Bells Flowers.

So it is very drought tolerant.  I don’t think I’ve watered these two plants since the first summer after they were planted. Heat and lack of water seem to have little effect on this Correa and I’d be inclined to say that as a rule most Correas are extremely drought tolerant plants as you quite often see them growing in public landscaping where they only get water when it rains.

Another feature of Correas is that they also mix very well into a cottage type garden and won’t be affected by fertilizer if planted into a garden bed that is regularly fertilized.

There are quite a few species of Correas as well as hybrids, they come in a variety of flowers colours such as red, pink, green and yellow.

So if you haven’t tried growing Correas before keep an eye out for them at your garden centre, they’re a tough little plant and will survive with a minimum of fuss or attention.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Banksia Oblongifolia
• Banksia Seminuda Flowers
• Pruning your Alyogyne Huegelii
• Growing Agave Attenuata in a Pot
• Eremophila “Big Poly”