Bitter Bush

Bitter Bush (Adriana quadripartita) is a tough, fast growing coastal native that knits loose sand and poor soil together where little else will grow. Its size is variable, anywhere from 0.5m to 3m high and wide, depending on the site and how much you trim it. It forms an open, airy shrub of toothed deep green leaves, and its long flowering season feeds butterflies and other pollinators.

Why you'll love it

• Built for sand and salt. It grows in poor sandy soil and salty coastal conditions, including frontline gardens that burn most shrubs.
• Holds the soil together. Its natural home is sand dunes, so it is a sound choice for binding banks and loose ground.
• A butterfly plant. It is a favourite host for butterflies, including the rare bitter-bush blue, and the long flowering season keeps pollinators fed.
• Fast and low fuss. Quick to grow, drought tolerant and happy with little attention once established.
• Subtle flowers. The small pale red flowers and fuzzy green seed pods are modest to our eyes, so this is a plant for function and habitat rather than show.

Where it works best

Coastal and exposed gardens. Plant 1.5m apart for a loose, informal shrub planting behind the dune or along a windy boundary. It copes with salty soil and sandy conditions that are hard on most plants.

Banks and slopes. Use it for erosion control on sandy batters, planting on the same 1.5m spacing so the roots bind the surface as the shrubs merge.

Native and pollinator gardens. It brings butterflies and other insects into a native planting. The open, airy habit suits informal beds better than a clipped formal line.

Growing Bitter Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or part shade. It comes from the coastal dunes of South Australia and parts of Victoria, so it suits Mediterranean, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. It is drought tolerant, but protect it from prolonged frost.

Soil. Well draining soil is essential, and sandy or salty ground suits it. Heavy clay should be raised or avoided.

Water and feed. Water until the plant is established, then leave it largely to rainfall. It grows in poor soil and does not need rich feeding.

Pruning. A light haircut of the leafy growth after flowering keeps it bushy and growing strongly in ornamental settings. Left untrimmed it grows looser and more open.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Bitter Bush as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tubes are the economical way to cover a bank or a long boundary, and a pack of ten gives a stronger start for a larger planting. Expect plants of variable shape, since this species is naturally variable.

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

• Planning a coastal garden that survives salt and wind
• Browse more salt tolerant coastal plants
• Plants for banks and retaining walls
• More Australian native shrubs

Common questions

How big will it get?

It varies from 0.5m to 3m high and wide, and soil, exposure and trimming all decide where it lands. Plan for the full 3m if you are planting near a path or boundary.

Does it have showy flowers?

No. The small pale red flowers, followed by fuzzy green seed pods, are modest to us. They matter more to butterflies and other insects, which is why it earns its place in a habitat garden.

Will it stabilise a sandy bank?

Yes, that is the job it does in nature on sand dunes. Plant 1.5m apart, water until it is established, and let the shrubs merge over the first few seasons.