Dampieras are attractive Australian native plants. The best known are from Western Australia and can be difficult to grow in the eastern states. Don Burke recently looked at a hardy cultivar which is native to the Glasshouse Mountains of Queensland and will grow in many areas.
Plant details
Botanical name: Dampiera stricta ‘Glasshouse Glory’
Common name: Dampiera
Descriptions
This hardy native is a spreading groundcover with attractive deep blue-purple flowers and is suited to many areas within Australia. ‘Glasshouse Glory’ grows to around 50cm (20″) tall with a spread of 30cm (12″) without pruning but the spread will increase with the suckering from hard pruning.
Likes:
good drainage
full sun – can cope with part shade but flowers and growth will be sparse
hard pruning will promote suckering and allow the plant to spread further
Dislikes:
- heavy, waterlogged soils
- hot tropics
Uses:
- as a garden plant
- will grow well as a tub plant
Climate
Dampiera stricta ‘Glasshouse Glory’ will grow along the east coast of Australia from southern Queensland to Tasmania. They should also grow in areas around Perth, Adelaide and mountain areas.
Availability
‘Glasshouse Glory’ retails for around $8 for a 150mm (6″) pot. This native is available at specialist native nurseries or contact the following nurseries:
NSW
Sydney Wildflower Nurseries
9 Veno Street
Heathcote 2233
Phone/fax: (02) 9548 2818
Cranebrook Native Nursery
175 Cranebrook Road
Cranebrook 2749
Phone: (02) 4777 4256
QLD
Fairhill Native Nursery
Fairhill Road
Yandina 4561
Phone: (07) 5446 7088
VIC
Kuranga Native Nurseries
393 Maroondah Highway
Ringwood VIC 3134
Phone: (03) 9879 4076 Fax: (03) 9870 7301
The Greenery Heidelberg
4 Banksia Street
Heidelberg VIC 3084
Phone: (03) 9459 8433 Fax: (03) 9549 3017
Did you know?
Dampieras are named after the 17th century navigator, William Dampier, who explored the west coast of Australia.