Correa Trixibelle

Correa Trixibelle (Correa reflexa 'Trixibelle') is a compact native shrub that flowers when almost nothing else does. It settles at about 80cm tall and 1m wide, and through the colder months it hangs red tubular bells tipped with green along the stems. Honeyeaters and other small birds work it steadily for nectar, which is the real reason to plant a correa rather than another low shrub.

Why you'll love it

• Winter flowers when the garden is quiet. Red bells with green tips carry through the cool season, filling the gap between autumn and spring.
• A reliable small bird plant. The tubular shape suits honeyeaters, and the dense low habit gives smaller birds cover to shelter in.
• Neat and predictable size. At 80cm by 1m it holds a rounded shape without regular clipping, so it stays in scale in a small bed.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, happy in poor soil and salt tolerant enough for an exposed coastal garden.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Set plants 70cm apart for a dense drift. At that spacing they close into continuous low cover in about two seasons and suppress most weeds beneath them.

Borders, edging and rockeries. The low mounded form suits a path edge or the front of a native bed, and it copes with the sharp drainage and reflected heat of a rockery.

Coastal gardens and pots. Salt tolerance makes it a sensible front line shrub near the beach. In a pot of 400mm or wider it makes a long lived container plant for a balcony or courtyard.

Growing Correa Trixibelle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to partial shade, with more flowers in sun and better foliage in light shade through hot inland summers. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and handles frost once established.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. It grows happily in sandy or poor ground, but wet clay will kill it, so plant on a raised mound if the soil holds water. Mulch 50mm deep and keep it off the stems.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser once in early spring. Standard garden fertilisers are too strong for correas and will burn the roots.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after flowering finishes in spring to keep the shape tight and encourage the next season's buds. Avoid cutting back into old bare wood, because correas are slow to reshoot from it.

What to expect when it arrives

This correa is grown in tubes. Tube stock is young, usually 100mm to 200mm tall with a small root system, and it is the sensible way to buy a mass planting: you need many plants and they establish fast at this size. Expect them to look modest on arrival.

Plant tubes straight into prepared ground or pot them on for a season first. They are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Water in well, keep the soil damp for the first six weeks, and expect the first real flush of flowers in the second cool season. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse more Australian native shrubs for the same conditions.
• Read about bird attracting natives for Australian gardens.
• Compare options for exposed coastal positions.
• See the wider tubestock range for cost effective mass planting.

Common questions

How many do I need for a garden bed?

Plant on a 70cm grid, which works out at roughly two plants per square metre. For a defined edge along a path, a single row at the same spacing is enough.

When does it flower?

Mainly through autumn and winter into early spring, which is when nectar is scarce for small birds. Odd flowers can appear at other times in mild gardens.

Will it grow in a hot, dry inland garden?

Yes, once established, provided the drainage is good. Give it some afternoon shade and a deep soak every few weeks through the worst of summer in its first two years.