Diplolaena dampieri – Southern Diplolaena

A medium shrub with elliptic leaves, olive-green above and creamy-white, densely hairy below, with stunning red-orange flowers in bell-like clusters surrounded by cream hairy bracts. New buds and branchlets are also covered in soft cream hairs while the leaves have a musky aroma. A gorgeous shrub for native and formal gardens that grows from 0.5 to 1.5m high, flowers in winter and spring and attracts birds. It can be used for medium height hedges and screening, and is very effective in large courtyard pots. It grows in full sun or dappled shade and tolerates moderate drought, some salinity, coastal conditions, alkaline sandy soils as well as inland heavier soils such as gravelly loams and clay loams. Origin – South-west coastal shrublands and granite outcrops.