Rose Carpet River Rose

Rose Carpet River Rose (Bauera hybrid 'Rose Carpet') is an airy native shrub with fine green leaves and bright pink, bell-shaped flowers. Its size follows its site, from a low groundcover about 50cm high in a sunny, exposed spot to a shrub of 1.5m in a sheltered, shady one, and 0.5 to 1m wide. In a moist, part-shaded position it flowers for most of the year.

Why you'll love it

• Pink bells for months. Well-watered plants flower for most of the year, with the main flush in spring in drier gardens.
• A size that adapts. Sun keeps it low and shade lets it grow taller, so it can fill a front-of-border role or a taller informal hedge.
• Colour in the foliage too. Small, slender mid-green leaves carry a bronze tinge on new growth and in cold weather.
• Made for shady corners. It comes from moist, shady places down the east coast, so it brightens spots where sun-lovers sulk.
• Light upkeep. One clip in early spring, after the frosts, is all it asks to encourage new buds.

Where it works best

Pots, tubs and windowboxes. The airy habit spills nicely over a container edge. Keep the mix moist and the pot in part shade.

Front of a border. Plant 60cm apart for a soft low edge that reads as a pink cloud in flower.

Groundcover. In a moist, shady bed, 60cm spacings knit into a loose mat within a few seasons.

Growing Rose Carpet River Rose in Australia

Position and climate. Anywhere from sun to shade, though it prefers a shady spot. It grows wild from Tasmania to Queensland, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and it copes with frost. Plants in full sun stay shorter and need more mulch and water.

Soil. Moist, light and well-draining, neutral to acidic. Improve heavy clay or dry sand with compost, because it dislikes both drying out and waterlogging.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly through the first 12 weeks to build a good root system, and keep water up in dry spells. Renew the mulch every year, especially in sunny sites, to cut water loss at the roots.

Pruning. Trim lightly in spring if required, after the frosts have passed, to encourage new buds. It needs nothing more.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Rose Carpet River Rose as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once it is in the ground. Tube plants are small and fine-leaved on arrival, so plant them into moist, mulched soil and keep the water up through the first season.

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 emails you the day it is back in.

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
• Plants for partial shade
• Designing a native garden for wildlife

Common questions

Why does its height vary so much?

The site decides. In an exposed, sunny position it stays near 50cm, while in a sheltered, shady one it can reach 1.5m. Choose the spot for the size you want.

Does it flower all year?

In well-watered plants it flowers for most of the year. In a dry garden the main flush comes in spring, so regular water and mulch lengthen the season.

Does it need shade?

It copes with sun to shade but prefers shade and moisture. In full sun it stays smaller and needs more water and mulch.