White Cat's Whiskers

White Cat's Whiskers (Orthosiphon aristatus) is a bushy, fast-growing shrub from far north Queensland that reaches about 1m tall and wide. Dark green leaves carry white, conical flower heads with long whisker-like stamens through the warmer months. Pollinators find it quickly, and it is one of the most distinctive flowers you can put in a cottage garden.

Why you'll love it

• Distinctive flowers. Each white flower head carries long, curved stamens that look like cat's whiskers, which is how it earned its name.
• A magnet for pollinators. It attracts beneficial insects and other nectar lovers, so it earns its place in a kitchen garden.
• Fast and bushy. It builds a rounded shrub about 1m high and wide, clothed in dark green leaves.
• A north Queensland native. It grows naturally in tropical far north Queensland, as well as India and southern Asia, and loves warmth and regular rain.
• Flexible in the garden. It suits cottage gardens, mixed borders and kitchen gardens, in full sun or dappled shade depending on your rainfall.

Where it works best

Mixed borders and cottage gardens. Plant 80cm apart so the bushes meet and form a soft, flowering drift. It pairs well with other warm climate perennials.

Kitchen and wildlife gardens. Tuck a few plants among the vegetables and herbs to bring in pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Pots in cooler areas. Where frost is a risk, grow it in a large pot you can move under cover in winter, or treat it as an annual.

Growing White Cat's Whiskers in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun if you have tropical rainfall, otherwise dappled or part shade gives the best results. It is a warmth lover, at home in tropical and subtropical gardens. In frosty areas protect it or grow it as an annual.

Soil. Moist, well drained soil of any kind. Add compost to sandy ground to hold moisture, and mulch to keep the roots cool.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly for the first 12 weeks while it establishes. After that keep watering regularly in dry spells, because it loves steady rainfall. Feed in early spring with a slow release, all purpose fertiliser.

Pruning. Cut it back in autumn to encourage flowering shoots next season. Clip lightly at other times if you want a tidier, denser shape.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell White Cat's Whiskers as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Expect a small leafy plant that grows quickly in warm weather and flowers once it has put on some size. In cooler districts, plant out after the last frost.

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
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants
• How to create a cottage garden in Australia
• Plants for subtropical climates

Common questions

Why is it called cat's whiskers?

The flowers carry long, curved stamens that stick out like whiskers from the white flower heads. Pollinators find them easily.

Can I grow it where it gets frost?

It is frost tender. In cooler districts, plant it after the last frost and protect it with mulch, grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover, or treat it as an annual.

Does it need full sun?

Full sun suits it where rainfall is tropical and reliable. In drier or hotter places, dappled or part shade is better.