Brown Boronia Dark Prince

Brown Boronia 'Dark Prince' (Boronia megastigma 'Dark Prince') is grown for one reason above all others, and that is the perfume. It is a slim upright shrub to about 1.2m tall and 800mm wide, and in late winter and spring it covers itself in small hanging bells of deep maroon and purple that open to a bright yellow interior. One plant beside a path or doorway scents the area on a still morning.

Why you'll love it

• The strongest perfume of any Australian native. The scent carries several metres in still air, which is why boronia is grown commercially for its oil.
• A long flowering season. Bells open through late winter and spring, when most gardens have very little happening.
• Small enough for anywhere. At 1.2m by 800mm it fits a courtyard bed, a narrow border or a decent pot by the back door.
• It works for pollinators. Bees and butterflies work the flowers through the whole flush.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. Start here. A pot lets you control drainage and moisture, which is the whole game with boronia, and it puts the perfume where you walk past it.

Borders and edging. Plant 700mm to 800mm apart for a continuous low band along a path. Keep it to the front of a bed, because the fine foliage is easily swamped by bigger neighbours.

Feature planting in small gardens. One plant near a seat or an open window does more than a row of it further away.

Growing Brown Boronia in Australia

Position and climate. This is a plant for warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is not suited to the humid tropics or subtropics. Give it morning sun with shade through the hottest part of the afternoon, and light frost is fine once it is established.

Soil. Free draining and slightly acidic, with plenty of organic matter. The roots want to be cool and evenly moist but never sitting wet, so mulch 50mm deep and shade the root zone with a low neighbouring plant or a stone.

Water and feed. Water regularly and never let it dry out completely, because a boronia that wilts hard often does not recover. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser after flowering.

Pruning. Trim lightly straight after flowering, taking about a third off the new growth. Skipping this is the fastest way to end up with a leggy plant that collapses in the middle.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tube stock, or in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten for a border or a mass planting. Tubes are young single plants that will flower in their first or second season and are the sensible choice if you are potting them on yourself.

Be realistic about lifespan. Brown boronia is not a permanent shrub. Three to five good years is a normal run, and most gardeners plant a replacement rather than nurse an old one. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider fragrant plant range.
• Read our guide to aromatic gardening.
• Compare other Australian native shrubs for small gardens.
• Find a container in our plants for pots selection.

Common questions

Why do boronias die suddenly?

Almost always water. Roots that dry out completely and roots left sitting wet both kill a plant quickly, so aim for evenly moist soil in a free draining mix.

Can I grow it in Brisbane or further north?

It is a poor bet in humid subtropical and tropical gardens, where the summer wet is more than the roots will take. It is far happier in temperate and Mediterranean climates.

How long does the perfume last?

Through the flowering flush in late winter and spring, roughly six to eight weeks depending on your climate. Cut stems will also scent a room for several days.