Magenta Stars Boronia

Magenta Stars Boronia (Boronia hybrid 'Magenta Stars') is the tall one of the family, reaching up to 2m with a slim spread of around 1m, and it carries deep magenta, cup-shaped flowers over the whole of that height in winter and spring. The small evergreen leaves are aromatic and the blooms are lightly scented. Bred at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens in Perth, it is a boronia you can use as a small feature shrub rather than a border edge.

Why you'll love it

• Boronia with height. Up to 2m tall, twice the height of its smaller sister Plum Bells, which means more blooms and a shrub that can stand behind lower plants.
• Deep magenta colour. Rounded, cup-shaped flowers in an intense pink-magenta open through winter and spring.
• Cut stems for a vase. The lightly scented flowers last well indoors, and cutting them is also how you prune the plant.
• A slim footprint. It spreads only to about 1m, so it fits a narrow bed or a courtyard corner.
• Bred in Perth. It comes from the breeding program at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, where it was developed for garden use.

Where it works best

A small feature shrub. Plant 1m apart, or use a single plant in a sheltered corner as a seasonal highlight. Place it where the winter flowers can be seen from inside the house.

The back of a native border. Behind lower boronias, correas and perennials it adds a second layer of colour at eye level.

Narrow beds and courtyards. With a spread of 1m, it suits the strip beside a fence or wall, provided the position is sheltered and cool-rooted.

Growing Magenta Stars Boronia in Australia

Position and climate. A sheltered spot in dappled shade. Magenta Stars tolerates a light frost. Extra height catches more wind, so shelter matters more here than for its low-growing relatives, and it prefers cool conditions to hot, humid ones.

Soil. Free-draining, slightly acid soil with plenty of organic matter dug through. After planting, spread gravel around the young tube to hold the roots cool and moist.

Water and feed. Water regularly and never let it dry out or become waterlogged. Apply a slow release fertiliser for natives once flowering has finished, followed by fresh mulch.

Pruning. Cutting stems to enjoy indoors is the easy way to prune it: take them long, and you shape the plant for next year as you go.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Magenta Stars 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, and the 140mm pots arrive further along for earlier impact.

Because the tubes come from our grower, they are not always on hand. A sold out tube simply means the grower has none right now, and the notify button on the page sends you an email 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 Australian native plants
• Flowering plants for every season
• Watering 101 for thriving gardens
• Australian native shrubs

Common questions

How tall does it get?

Up to 2m tall and around 1m wide. That makes it about twice the height of Plum Bells Boronia, its smaller sister.

Is it harder to grow than other boronias?

It needs the same things as the rest of the family: cool roots, filtered light, even moisture and free drainage. Boronias take a little extra care, and the display is worth it.

Can I cut the flowers?

Yes, and you should. The stems last in a vase, the fragrance fills a room and the cut counts as your annual prune.