Basil, lavender, mint, sage and thyme are well-known culinary members of the Lamiaceae plant family.
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The name probably means “two-lipped” and refers to the shape of the flowers that have a slight resemblance to an open mouth.
Australia has many representatives of this world-wide family. These representatives are known more for their horticultural attributes than their culinary uses.
Prostantheras and westringias are the best-known members of the Australian branch of the Lamiaceae. This time, the westringias will take centre stage.
Westringias only grow naturally in Australia. There are about 30 species with a number of cultivars. They differ from the majority of members of this family in not having strongly aromatic foliage.
Westringias range in height from groundcovers to medium shrubs. Their leaves are usually small and held in whorls of three to four around the stems. Their irregular flowers are typically “two-lipped” and range in colour from mauve to white.
Westringias are well worth a place in local gardens.
They have a number of useful features. Once established they are frost and drought-tolerant, have long flowering periods, low water usage and propagate readily from cuttings.
Some with a proven horticultural track record, in local gardens, are discussed here.
Westringia “Wollomombi Falls” as the name implies is a local species and is found in the gorge country east of Armidale. The species was once thought to be Westringia glabra, but this is a Victorian variety. The local one is quite different and has yet to be given a botanical name.
“Wollomombi Falls” is a small shrub with shiny leaves and eye-catching purple flowers that are carried for most of the year.
This is a beautiful shrub that would grace any garden, particularly as a foreground shrub to take advantage of the beautiful blooms. This is our favourite westringia and one of our favourite native plants.
Westringia “Glabra Cadabra” is another colourful variety. This is a small to medium shrub with glossy leaves, carried in whorls of four around the stems.
Violet flowers are carried in clusters during spring with sporadic flowering at other times. Both foliage and flowers are attractive features. Light pruning will keep plants dense and improve flowering.
Westringia eremicola is a small shrub that reaches a height of 1m in our garden. Small leaves are linear and slightly prickly; they are carried in whorls of three around the stem.
Flowers are white or mauve flowers and carried in the base of the leaves. Spring and summer are the main flowering periods but sporadic flowering may occur at other times.
There is a form that produces masses of attractive mauve flowers. This form probably comes from the Torrington area, near Glen Innes, northern NSW.
Westringia eremicola has proved to be a hardy, free-flowering small shrub. The species is frost-hardy and drought-resistant.
Rockeries and native cottage gardens would benefit from the addition of Westringia eremicola.
Westringias are well worth a place in local gardens. Their hardiness and long flowering periods make them desirable garden subjects.
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