{"product_id":"rose-coneflower-isopogon-formosus","title":"Rose Coneflower - Isopogon formosus","description":"\u003cp\u003eRose Coneflower (\u003cem\u003eIsopogon formosus\u003c\/em\u003e) is a native shrub from south-west Western Australia that grows 1.5 to 2m tall and wide, with fern-like leaves that are finely divided and round pink-purple flowerheads fringed with long slender petals. They open anywhere from midwinter through to midsummer, depending on where you garden. It is a relative of grevilleas and proteas, and it rewards gardeners who can offer good drainage and a drier climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatherine wheel flowers.\u003c\/strong\u003e Vibrant pink-purple globes with radiating petals look like nothing else in the garden, and the name formosus means good-looking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonths of colour.\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowering runs from midwinter into summer, with the exact timing set by your location.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFerny foliage all year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The finely divided leaves keep the shrub textured and interesting when it is not in flower.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA West Australian native.\u003c\/strong\u003e It suits native and wildlife gardens, and bees visit the flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold tolerant enough for the south.\u003c\/strong\u003e It shrugs off a light frost or a brief dry spell, and is grown as far south and inland as Canberra.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative and wildlife gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1.5m apart in a mixed bed with grevilleas, banksias and other natives that share its need for sharp drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSandy and rocky soils.\u003c\/strong\u003e It thrives where many shrubs struggle, in light sandy ground or among rocks, in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDry southern gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e As a feature shrub it brings winter colour to gardens in Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Rose Coneflower in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Give it full sun. A light frost or a short dry spell will not harm it, but hard or prolonged frost and long dry periods will. It dislikes humidity, so it suits Mediterranean, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens and is not a good choice for the humid subtropics and tropics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy or rocky soil that drains freely, with a neutral to acid pH, is ideal. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound of free draining mix, because wet soil is the commonest cause of failure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep it watered for the first two to three months while it establishes, then top up in long dry spells. Feed once when buds form, using a slow release native fertiliser. Isopogons dislike phosphorus, so pick one whose phosphorus share is under 3 per cent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e A light trim after flowering encourages bushy growth and keeps the shape tidy. Do not cut hard into bare wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Rose Coneflower 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 is the economical way to start a native bed. The 140mm pots are already bigger and need less time to reach a flowering size. This is a slightly tricky plant, and success depends mostly on drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-native-shrubs\"\u003eMore Australian native shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grevilleas\"\u003eGrevilleas to plant alongside\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/native-bee-plants\"\u003ePlants for native bees\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/rare-australian-native-plants-guide\"\u003eGrowing uncommon natives: drainage and fertiliser rules\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Rose Coneflower hard to grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a little tricky. Gardeners who do well with grevilleas usually manage it too. It wants sharp drainage, full sun and a climate that is neither too humid nor too cold for too long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in a humid climate like Brisbane or Darwin?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot reliably. It dislikes humidity, and warm wet summers tend to cause root problems. Choose a sandy raised bed if you want to try.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat fertiliser is safe for it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slow release native fertiliser with a phosphorus ratio under 3 per cent, applied when buds form. Many general garden fertilisers contain far too much phosphorus.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":67787244994879,"sku":"ISO-FOR-tube","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":67787245027647,"sku":"ISO-FOR-140MM-P10","price":188.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/rose-coneflower-isopogon-formosus.jpg?v=1792154007","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/rose-coneflower-isopogon-formosus","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}