White Star Waxflower

White Star Waxflower (Crowea exalata 'White Star') is a compact Australian native that flowers when very little else does. It makes a rounded shrub about 80cm tall and wide, covered in white star shaped blooms from summer right through into winter. The foliage is fine and aromatic, and the plant is frost hardy and drought tolerant once established.

Why you'll love it

• A long flowering season. White stars from summer into winter, filling the gap when most native shrubs have finished for the year.
• It stays small. A neat 80cm by 80cm dome, which suits a small garden, a border or a large container with no pruning needed to control size.
• Frost hardy and drought tolerant. Cold southern gardens and dry summers both suit it once the roots are down.
• Australian native. Naturally occurring in south eastern Australia, and worked steadily by bees and butterflies.
• Content in poor soil. No rich beds required, and it takes the low phosphorus conditions natives prefer.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 60cm apart for a low mass planting. At that spacing the domes meet into a continuous flowering band within two seasons and hold their shape without shearing.

Small gardens and courtyards. At 80cm it fits a narrow bed or a small front garden, where a larger native would crowd the space within three years.

Pots and rockeries. A 400mm pot suits a single plant. In a rockery it likes the sharp drainage, and appreciates afternoon shade in hot districts.

Growing White Star Waxflower in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun in cooler and coastal gardens, dappled shade in hot inland districts where afternoon sun scorches the fine foliage. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, so Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and the coastal strip all work well. Frost is not a problem.

Soil. Free draining and on the poor side. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal. On clay, plant on a raised mound. Mulch lightly with a coarse native mulch, kept clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then taper to occasional deep soaks. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser only, applied lightly in early spring.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly and often, taking spent flowering stems back a few centimetres. This is the single thing that keeps a crowea dense instead of open and woody. Avoid cutting into bare old wood, which reshoots poorly.

What to expect when it arrives

White Star is grown in tube stock. Tubes arrive as young rooted plants, usually 10 to 15cm tall with fine aromatic foliage and sometimes a few early buds. Small natives establish faster than large ones, so this is the right size to buy rather than a compromise on price.

Fine foliage can look dry after transit, and a good soak usually settles it. Plant into free draining ground within a few days, water in, and expect useful size by the end of the second season. 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

• Designing a native garden that attracts wildlife.
• Browse the Australian native shrub range.
• Plants for small gardens for companions on the same scale.
• Bee and butterfly plants to extend the forage season.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for a low mass planting or a border run. As individual accent plants, give each one 80cm so the dome shape stays clear.

When does it flower?

From summer through into winter, a longer season than most native shrubs manage. Light tip pruning after each flush keeps the display coming.

What fertiliser should I use?

A low phosphorus native fertiliser, applied lightly in early spring. Standard garden fertilisers and manures carry too much phosphorus and can set the plant back or kill it outright.

Will it grow in a pot?

Yes. Use a 400mm pot with a free draining native mix, in sun or light shade.