Headland Zieria

Headland Zieria (Zieria prostrata) is a low, spreading native that stays under 30cm tall and reaches about 1.2m across, so one plant covers real ground without ever needing a trim. Small pink and white star flowers cover it in late winter and spring, and the crushed foliage carries a clean citrus scent. It grows wild on exposed headlands near Coffs Harbour, which tells you most of what you need to know: it wants sun, sharp drainage and salt air, and it will not tolerate wet feet.

Why you'll love it

• Wide and flat by habit. At 30cm high and 1.2m across it fills a bank or rockery pocket sideways, so you plant fewer and prune none.
• Built for the coast. Salt spray, wind and dry sandy soil are its natural conditions rather than a compromise.
• Aromatic foliage. The fine leaves release a citrus scent when brushed, which makes it worth putting beside a path or step.
• A magnet for bees and butterflies. Masses of small flowers in the cooler months, when little else is offering nectar.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 80cm apart for dense cover. At that spacing the plants meet within two seasons and shade out most weed seedlings.

Rockeries and retaining walls. It spills naturally over rock and wall edges, and the raised position gives it the drainage it insists on.

Coastal gardens and slopes. Front gardens near the beach suit it, as do sunny banks too steep to mow. The fine root system holds surface soil once it has spread.

Growing headland zieria in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun keeps it compact and flowering heavily; part shade thins it out. It suits warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens. It takes only light frost, so cold inland and southern districts should give it a warm, sheltered aspect or grow it in a pot that can be moved.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal, and heavy clay needs a raised mound or a rockery position. Do not enrich the bed with heavy compost, and keep mulch coarse and clear of the crown.

Water and feed. Water weekly for the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. A light native fertiliser after flowering is enough, and phosphorus rich general fertilisers can set it back.

Pruning. Little is needed. A light trim after the spring flush keeps the centre furnished and encourages fresh growth, and it is better done often and lightly than hard, since it is slow to reshoot from bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

Headland Zieria is sold as tube stock. Tubes are young plants, usually a few centimetres across, and they are the right way to buy a groundcover you need in quantity. Expect them to look modest on arrival and to start spreading in their first warm season, with useful cover by the end of the second year.

Tubes travel well because the root ball is small and firm. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse other groundcover plants for banks and beds
• See what suits a rockery or gravel garden
• Compare plants that spill over retaining walls
• Read our guide to planting a coastal garden

Common questions

How many do I need to cover an area?

At 80cm spacing, roughly 1.5 plants per square metre. Stretch to a metre apart if you are patient and happy to weed for an extra season.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only. In districts with regular heavy frost it needs a sheltered north facing position, or a pot that can be moved under cover for winter.

Why is it dying in my garden bed?

Almost always drainage. This plant comes from free draining headland soil and will not survive sitting wet, so raise the bed or move it to a slope or rockery.