Coral Carpet Jug Flower

Coral Carpet Jug Flower (Adenanthos cuneatus 'Coral Carpet') is a native groundcover that stays 20cm to 30cm tall and spreads 1.5m to 2m wide. It is a first cousin of the woolly bush, though you would never guess from the soft, silvery green, almost succulent-looking foliage, which flushes pinky red with new growth. Small red flowers appear all year and draw small birds and bees.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage with character. Each silver green leaf has a wavy, crenellated tip, the stems are soft to touch and the new growth comes through pinky red.
• Flowers all year. Small red flowers keep appearing through the seasons, and they attract small birds and bees.
• A fast carpet. Fast growing, and only 20cm to 30cm high, it spreads out to 2m across and covers bare ground quickly.
• Holds a bank. The spreading stems cover the soil, which makes it a sound choice for erosion control on slopes and rockery banks.
• Suited to dry and coastal sites. It grows wild on sandy granite, so sun, sand and a sea breeze suit it, and it sits well beside a pool.

Where it works best

Banks, slopes and rockeries. Plant 1m apart so the mats meet as they spread. It drapes over rocks and the tops of retaining walls.

Poolside and coastal gardens. Low, tidy and happy in dry, sunny, sandy conditions, it suits pool surrounds and exposed coastal beds.

Containers and mixed beds. Let it spill over the edge of a large pot, or use it as a feature groundcover at the front of a native planting.

Growing Coral Carpet Jug Flower in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It prefers dry, non-humid air, so it is happiest in Mediterranean, warm temperate and semi-arid gardens. Humid summers are the real test: there, choose the sunniest, best drained, most open spot and treat it as an experiment.

Soil. Well drained sandy soil with a neutral to low pH is ideal. On clay, build a raised mound and work in sand and fine gravel before planting.

Water and feed. Mulch the soil and water regularly until the plant is established, then taper off. Feed with a low phosphorus native plant food, because ordinary garden fertilisers carry too much phosphorus for this plant family.

Pruning. Prune very lightly, only to shape it. Trim the soft tips and leave the older wood alone.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Coral Carpet Jug Flower as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small tuft rather than a mat, so mulch the gaps and expect the carpet to fill in over a couple of seasons.

Our grower supplies the tube stock, and supply comes and goes. If the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at that moment: press the notify button on the page and we email you the day it returns.

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

• More groundcover plants
• Plants for banks and retaining walls
• Plants for poolside gardens
• Planning a coastal feature garden

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

A metre apart suits a bank or bed, because each plant spreads 1.5m to 2m. On a steep slope, stagger the plants in rows across the slope.

Will it grow in a humid climate?

It prefers dry, non-humid air, so humid summers are the hard part. In subtropical gardens give it full sun, very free draining sandy soil and plenty of airflow, and treat it as a trial.

Does it need feeding?

Very little. Use a low phosphorus native plant food once it is growing, and avoid general purpose fertilisers, which are too high in phosphorus for this plant family.