Celebration Boronia

Celebration Boronia (Boronia hybrid 'Celebration') is a compact, bushy native shrub whose bright pink bells face upward, so you see every flower instead of the backs of them. It grows to between 80cm and 1m tall and wide, with small aromatic evergreen leaves, and it flowers from late winter into early spring when little else is in colour. Bred at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens in Perth, it is a tidy plant for pots and borders alike.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers that face you. Most boronia bells hang down. Celebration's point upward, which shows off the intense pink from above and from across the garden.
• Winter colour. Blooms open from late winter and carry through early spring, just when a garden needs a lift.
• Aromatic foliage. The small leaves are fragrant year round, and the flowers add a light scent of their own.
• Compact and bushy. At 80cm to 1m it forms a tidy mound without any shaping.
• Happy in a large pot. It is a good container plant, and it also suits wildlife gardens and native or cottage plantings.

Where it works best

Large pots. A pot of 40cm or more filled with quality native potting mix, in morning sun and afternoon shade, makes root conditions easy to control. Stand it by a path or doorway where those upward-facing flowers are seen.

Wildlife and cottage gardens. Plant 70cm apart in a sheltered border where the winter flowers can be seen from a window. Boronias suit wildlife gardens and mix easily with other natives.

Drifts of three. Planting three together gives a more generous show of winter pink than a single specimen, and it still stays under a metre.

Growing Celebration Boronia in Australia

Position and climate. A sheltered spot in dappled shade. Celebration tolerates a light frost. Like other boronias it is happiest where summers are not harsh, so Mediterranean, temperate and cool gardens suit it, while hot humid summers are a challenge.

Soil. Free draining, slightly acid and rich in organic matter. Top the planting hole with gravel mulch, which buffers soil temperature and holds moisture around the young roots.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist, neither dry nor waterlogged, and add extra water in hot spells. When flowering ends, give it a slow release native fertiliser and a fresh layer of mulch.

Pruning. Prune once flowering has finished to hold the shape and encourage new growth. Cut flowering stems for a vase and the job is done.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Celebration Boronia as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, while the 140mm pots arrive further along, and a pack of 10 covers a long border.

Availability of the tube depends on our grower. If it is sold out when you visit, use the notify button on the page and you will be emailed the day it comes back.

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

• Plants for pots and containers
• More Australian native plants
• Designing a native garden for wildlife
• Pruning for beginners

Common questions

Why do the flowers face upward?

It is a trait of the cultivar. Most boronia bells nod downward, but Celebration's face up, so the colour is far more visible.

When does it flower?

From winter into early spring, with the best display in late winter and early spring.

Can I keep it in a pot for good?

Yes. It is suited to large pots. Use native potting mix, water regularly and feed after flowering with a slow release native fertiliser.