Boronias were named after the Italian botanist Francesco Borone (1769-94). They have a wonderful perfume reminiscent of lemons, which is not surprising when you consider that they belong to the Rutaceae, along with their relatives the citrus.
Plant details
Common name: Brown boronia
Botanical name: Boronia megastigma
Description:
Evergreen Australian native plant with cup-like flowers which vary in colour from all yellow to dark brown with yellow inside. The flowers appear in spring, and it’s interesting to note that although this plant is prized for its magnificent perfume, a significant number of people cannot smell it at all.
Other varieties
Brown boronias are highly variable from seed and there many forms and named cultivars available including:
‘Harlequin’ – red and yellow striped flowers
‘Heaven Scent’- compact cultivar
‘Jack McGuires Red’ – red flowering form
‘Lutea’ – yellow flowering form
‘Royale’ – Dwarf form
Climate:
Boronias are at their best in the cooler areas of southern Western Australia, the Dandenongs and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Tasmania and the Blue Mountains of NSW.
Good points:
Magnificent perfume
Flowers come in a range of attractive colours
Downside:
Hard to grow – tend to drop dead
Short lived, but worth growing as a temporary plant just for the wonderful perfume
Likes:
Filtered light, but not heavy shade
Good drainage
Cool root run. Hint: mulch with pebbles around the root zone to conserve moisture and keep the plant cool.
Getting started:
Brown boronias should be available at your local nursery during spring. Specialist native nurseries with an extensive range include:
Sydney Wildflower Nursery West, Marsden Park, NSW. Phone: (02) 9628 4448
Annangrove Grevilleas Native Nursery, Kenthurst, NSW. Phone: (02) 9654 1380
Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale, WA. Phone: (08) 9454 6260
Fairhill Native Plants, Yandina, QLD. Phone: (07) 5446 7088
Kuranga Native Nursery, Ringwood, VIC. Phone: (03) 9879 4076
Nellie Nursery, Mannum, SA. Phone: (08) 8569 1762
