Flamingo Boronia

Flamingo Boronia (Boronia hybrid 'Flamingo') opens its tiny bells deep pink and lets them fade slowly to white, so a plant in full flower carries both colours at once. It forms a compact, slender shrub of about 1m by 1m with small, aromatic evergreen leaves, and it flowers in late winter and early spring when gardens need a push of colour. It was bred at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens from two Western Australian species.

Why you'll love it

• Two-tone flowers. Bells open deep pink and fade to white as they age, so a flowering plant shows a soft range from pink to white.
• Late winter colour. Flowers arrive in late winter and early spring, filling a quiet part of the gardening year.
• Aromatic foliage. The small evergreen leaves are aromatic all year, and the blooms are lightly scented.
• Slender and compact. At about 1m by 1m it is neat enough for almost every garden space.
• In the ground or in a pot. It does well in large containers and suits wildlife gardens and native or cottage borders.

Where it works best

Large pots. Grow one plant per 40cm pot of native potting mix on a verandah or beside steps, where you can enjoy the colour change up close.

Wildlife gardens. Plant three together, 70cm apart, in a sheltered bed. The mass of bells gives a stronger show than a lone shrub.

Cottage and native borders. Its slender habit slots in beside rounder shrubs without crowding them, and the pink-to-white flowers blend with most other colours.

Growing Flamingo Boronia in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled shade and shelter, out of hot afternoon sun. It tolerates a light frost. Native boronias like light, moist, neutral to acid soil and extra water in hot spells, so choose a cool corner of the garden.

Soil. Light, moist, free-draining soil that is neutral to slightly acid, enriched with plenty of organic matter. Spread gravel mulch over the roots of a young plant to hold the temperature steady.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist, with extra water in hot spells, but never dry or soggy. A slow release native fertiliser and a fresh layer of mulch after flowering are all the feeding it needs.

Pruning. Prune lightly once the flowers fade, cutting flowering stems to bring inside. That shapes the plant and prompts the next season's growth.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Flamingo Boronia as tube stock only: a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, so it is the economical way to build a group of three or five.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is 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

• Australian native shrubs
• Plants for pots and containers
• Most fragrant plants for Australian gardens
• Tubestock plants

Common questions

Do the flowers really change colour?

Yes. The bells open deep pink and slowly turn white as they age, so you see both shades on the plant at once.

Can I grow it in a pot all year?

Yes. It suits large pots. Choose native potting mix, keep it evenly moist and feed after flowering with a slow release native fertiliser.

How is it different from Mirabelle Boronia?

Flamingo reaches about 1m and flowers pink fading to white. Mirabelle is a smaller, plum-pink plant of around 60cm, and Flamingo is one of its parents.