Rice Flower Red Gingham

Rice Flower 'Red Gingham' (Ozothamnus diosmifolius 'Red Gingham') is an Australian native shrub that holds tight clusters of deep red buds for weeks before they open paler. It grows to about 1m tall and 80cm wide, so it sits at the front of a bed rather than over the top of it. The fine aromatic foliage stays neat, and the stems cut and hold well in a vase.

Why you'll love it

• Two colours from one plant. Buds sit deep red, then open soft white, so a mature bush shows both at once.
• It handles hard ground. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and comfortable in poor soil, so a dry bank or a neglected verge is fair game.
• Bees and butterflies work it. The flower heads are small, flat and open, the easiest shape for pollinators to feed from.
• Fragrant fine foliage. Narrow leaves release a light scent when brushed, and the shrub keeps its shape between prunings.

Where it works best

Mass planting and drifts. Plant 80cm apart. At that spacing the bushes knit together within two seasons and hold each other upright, which matters with a plant this fine stemmed.

Borders and edging. At 1m it sits behind groundcovers and in front of taller shrubs, and the flowering flush lifts a bed that is otherwise all green.

Coastal gardens and pots. Salt tolerance suits exposed front gardens and fence lines. A single plant fills a 400mm pot on a sunny courtyard or balcony.

Growing rice flower in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. Subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens all suit it, and because it is frost hardy that includes cold inland and southern districts. Humid tropical gardens are the exception, where the dense flower heads hold moisture.

Soil. Drainage matters far more than fertility. Sandy, gravelly and shallow soils are fine as they are. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and keep 75mm of coarse mulch clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring. Rich manures push soft growth and shorten its life.

Pruning. Cut back by about a third straight after flowering, taking spent heads and some leafy stem. Skip it and the centre goes woody and bare, which is why most rice flowers get pulled out early.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tubestock or as 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tubes are young single stems under 20cm and the sensible buy for a large drift, since this shrub establishes fast from small. The 140mm plants are already branched and flower a season sooner.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect roots to move within a month in warm weather and a first real flowering in the spring after planting. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the Australian native shrub range
• Native plants with red flowers
• Salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens
• What to plant where the soil is poor

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Eighty centimetres apart for a mass planting or a drift. Closer and air movement drops through the middle of the planting, which the flower heads dislike in humid weather.

Does it really work as a cut flower?

Yes, this is the form grown commercially for cutting. Cut stems in bud rather than full flower and they hold colour for a week or more.

Will it survive frost?

It is frost hardy once established, so cold southern and tableland gardens suit it. Give first year plants a little shelter through their opening winter while the root system is still shallow.

How long does it live?

Five to eight years is fair, longer if you prune hard every year. It is short lived by nature, so plan on replacing sections of a mass planting over time.