Bauera Tip

Many people make the mistake of trying to grow the Australian native bauera, or dog rose, in ordinary garden positions. Don explained that in the wild these plants thrive in boggy situations, so the trick is to plant them at the edge of a pond, with a thin layer of water just beneath their roots.

Dog rose, river rose (Bauera rubioides)
An evergreen shrub to about 1m (3') tall. It is often straggly, almost prostrate in habit, but can be kept more compact with regular pruning. It has tiny, dark green leaves, which turn reddish in winter. The deep pink to white flowers are produced for most of the year, with main flower flushes in spring and summer. Dog roses grow naturally in moist, shady places, often along the banks of creeks. The genus name, Bauera, commemorates botanical artists Ferdinand and Franz Bauer. 

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