{"product_id":"colour-surprise-rice-flower-ozothamnus-hybrid-colour-surprise","title":"Colour Surprise Rice Flower - Ozothamnus hybrid 'Colour Surprise'","description":"\u003cp\u003eColour Surprise Rice Flower (\u003cem\u003eOzothamnus\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid 'Colour Surprise') is an evergreen native shrub that grows to about 1.2m tall and just 50cm wide. Its spring flower clusters are shaped like a portobello mushroom and open from maroon buds to pink, then fade to yellow, so one flowerhead carries a whole range of sunset shades. It is a narrow, hardy shrub for borders, banks and low informal hedges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunset colouring.\u003c\/strong\u003e Ochre yellow and dusky pink replace the white of most rice flowers, and every flowerhead shows several shades at once.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlim and upright.\u003c\/strong\u003e At about 1.2m tall and 50cm wide it fits a tight border, a verge or a narrow hedge line.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFine, slender foliage.\u003c\/strong\u003e The evergreen leaves are thin and soft-looking, giving a light texture that suits cottage and native plantings alike.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardy once settled.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is drought tolerant, tolerates moderate frost and copes with salty soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for wildlife.\u003c\/strong\u003e Butterflies and beneficial insects visit the flowers, which helps keep the garden in balance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLow informal hedge.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart in a single row. The narrow plants close into a soft hedge of about 1.2m without shading each other at the base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and cottage gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e The unusual colour works with silver foliage, blue flowers and native grasses, and it fills a mixed border without crowding its neighbours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVerges and banks.\u003c\/strong\u003e Its drought tolerance and slim habit make it a practical choice for dry banks and street verges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Colour Surprise Rice Flower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in full sun or a partly shaded position. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and tolerates moderate frost once established. A sunny spot gives the best flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free-draining soil is important. It copes with salty soil, but it dislikes sitting wet, so avoid low spots and raise the bed on heavy clay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks. After that it is drought tolerant, and overwatering is a bigger risk than dry spells. Fertilise with a native slow release fertiliser after trimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim after flowering to keep it dense and compact. Take only the soft growth rather than cutting into old, leafless wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Colour Surprise Rice Flower as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It is a fine, slender plant when young, and it fills out through its first growing season. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. The tube shows as sold out when the grower has none, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-native-shrubs\"\u003eMore Australian native shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/best-hedging-plants\"\u003eCompare the best hedging plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/designing-a-native-australian-garden-to-attract-wildlife\"\u003eDesigning a native garden to attract wildlife\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eDrought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is it not white like other rice flowers?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a hybrid between two native rice flowers, \u003cem\u003eOzothamnus diotophyllus\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eOzothamnus diosmifolius\u003c\/em\u003e. The cross gives maroon buds that open pink and fade to yellow instead of pure white.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I use it as a hedge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, as a low informal hedge. Plant 50cm apart and trim after flowering. It is narrow, so it makes a soft, slim hedge rather than a thick screen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much water does it need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRegular water until established, then very little. It is drought tolerant, and overwatering is a more common cause of trouble than dry weather.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790862385471,"sku":"OZO-HYB-COLOUR-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/colour-surprise-rice-flower-ozothamnus-hybrid-colour-surprise.jpg?v=1792209862","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/colour-surprise-rice-flower-ozothamnus-hybrid-colour-surprise","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}