Practical
Plants

Boronia pinnata

Pinnate Boronia

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Boronia genus in the family Rutaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rutaceae
Genus
Boronia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers and the leaves[3][6]. Used in perfumery[6].

Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Mountain ranges[3]. Heathland and dry sclerophyll forests[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse at 15°c[8][2]. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place within 4 - 9 weeks at 24°c[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe shoot tips or side shoots, 5 - 10cm preferably with a heel, July/August in a frame[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rich well-drained lime-free sandy soil in a sunny sheltered position[6]. One form of this species is resistant to salt spray[4]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[4] but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens because of our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. One report says that the plants might succeed on a wall in the milder areas of this country[5], another says that they require greenhouse protection[1] and yet another says that they can be grown outdoors in tubs during the summer but need to be bought indoors in the winter[6]. Plants can flower in their first year from seed if they are pot grown and the young shoot tips are pinched out constantly[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩1↩2

  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

    ↩

  8. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

Edit this page