Pink Phyllanthus

Pink Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus cuscutiflorus) is an unusual tropical shrub grown for the tiny pink flowers that line its flattened, leaf like stems. It reaches about 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide, upright and slim rather than bulky, so it fits a narrow bed beside a wall or a large pot on a covered terrace.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers along the stems. Small pink blooms sit directly on the flattened green stems, giving an effect closer to coral than to a conventional flowering shrub.
• Narrow and upright. At 2.5m by 1.5m it screens at eye level without demanding the width a hedge plant needs.
• Built for humidity. Wet season heat and humidity suit it, which rules out very few tropical and subtropical gardens.
• Very little work. No spraying regime, no staking and one shaping prune a year is enough.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it a spot beside a path, a doorway or an outdoor seating area where the flowers can be seen up close, ideally against a plain wall.

Light screening. Plant 1m apart in a row for a soft screen. It filters a view rather than blocking it, so it suits a courtyard divider more than a boundary fence line.

Pots and courtyards. A container of 400mm or wider holds it well and keeps it to around 1.5m to 2m, which is the practical way to grow it outside the tropics.

Growing pink phyllanthus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with dappled afternoon shade preferred in the hottest inland gardens. This is a plant for tropical and subtropical gardens only. It is frost tender, so gardeners further south need to grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter, or choose something hardier.

Soil. Rich, free draining soil with compost worked through the backfill. It dislikes both drought stress and waterlogging, so a mulched bed that holds moisture without staying wet is ideal.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer and whenever the top of the soil dries after that, more often in pots. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer keeps growth steady and flowering heavy.

Pruning. Tip prune young plants to encourage branching, then shape after the main flowering period. It responds well to a light annual trim, and older plants can be cut back by a third in spring to renew the stems.

What to expect when it arrives

Pink Phyllanthus is grown in tubes, 140mm pots in packs of ten, 200mm pots in packs of six and single 300mm pots. Tubes and 140mm plants are young and slim, and they catch up quickly in warm weather. The 300mm plants are the choice for an instant feature in a pot or beside an entry.

Some leaf drop after transit is normal and new growth follows within a few weeks. 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

• Read our guide to designing a tropical garden
• Browse the tropical plant range
• See other exotic and rare plants
• Compare screening plants between 2m and 4m

Common questions

Will it grow in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth?

Not reliably in the ground. It is frost tender and suited to tropical and subtropical climates, so in southern cities grow it in a pot on a sheltered patio and move it under cover before winter.

How far apart for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. The result is a light, see through screen at about 2.5m, not a solid privacy hedge.

Can I grow it indoors?

Only in a very bright position such as a sunroom or beside a large north facing window. In average indoor light it thins out and stops flowering.

When does it flower?

Through the warmer months, with the heaviest display in a humid summer. Flowering slows in a cool or dry season and picks up as temperatures rise.