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Bursaria spinosa

Posted Sat, 08/05/2010 - 08:27 by BB
Common Names: 
Sweet Bursaria

Small_Bursaria_grassland_habit.JPGA small-leaved shrub to small tree. The young plants tend to have very tiny leaves and are often spiny. On older plants the leaves grow larger and they become virtually thornless. The foliage is generally sparse and the grey bark develops and attractive tesselated appearance. Dense, pyramidal inflorescences of tiny, white, lightly perfumed blossom appear in early summer. The pods begin to swell rapidly and it is not unusual to see nearly fully sized green pods amongst the last fading blossom. These green pods mature in late summer, turning brown and dry. At this time the tops of the pods split open but the dry seed may be held for several months as the pods are held upright. A heavily laden bush will make a distinct rustling sound in strong breezes.

Ecology: 

Attracts insects including butterflies, and is associated with the Eltham Copper Butterfly. The summer blossom of this species is a magnet for many species of insects. A wide range of insects feeding on the nectar including Fiddler Beetles, Eupoecila australasiae, Double-spotted Line-blue Butterflies, Nacaduba biocellata, Meadow Argus, Junonia villida, Yellow Admiral, Vanessa itea and Dainty Swallowtail, Papilio anactus. The 'Bursaria Fairy Moth', Nemophora chrysolamprella female inserts an ovipositor into a developing pod of this species and the caterpillar feeds on the developing seeds. The glittering adults can be seen swarming around the flowering bushes during warm sunny days. If mature plants are cut or burnt, they will re-shoot vigorously from the base and provide excellent nesting sites for wrens and thornbills for several years.

Revegetation: 

Bursaria spinosa should be part of the revegetation mix for the following ecological vegetation classes (EVCs) in the Melbourne area: Within the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion:

Creekline Grassy Woodland,
Grassy Woodland, but NOT Plains Grassy Woodland
Escarpment Shrubland
Streambank Shrubland (within slightly drier sections).

Within the Gippsland Plains Bioregion:

Riparian Woodland
Creekline Grassy Woodland
Grassy Dry Forest
others to be added....

It will provide better habitat, and will flower and set seed more profusely if planted in groups, with some space (say two to three meters) between each individual plant.

Gardening Hints: 

Tall growing shrub, often developing a small tree stature. It can also be used for hedging. May or may not have thorns- it tend to become less thorny as it matures. This can be trained as a small tree, able to fit in with most home gardens. The species has been used extensively in the gardens of the Royal Melbourne Zoo. Many other plant species are able to grow in the generally light shade that it casts. In turn, this species is one of those rare species that can be reliably established below mature eucalypt canopies although the growth in such conditions will generally be very slow. Cutting to the base to promote dense regrowth ('coppicing') may also be a means of ensuring blossoming at eye-height. If allowed to develop naturally, it will become less flowery, but the open sinuous branches are attractive year-round.

Fragrant clusters of creamy flowers are followed by golden brown capsules in March.

Propagation: 

Seed requires a chilling period of 2-3 weeks at 2 deg C, followed by temperatures of 20 deg C. This can be achieved by putting seed trays outside during periods of expected frost, (July-August in Melbourne), then waiting for germination over spring. From germination to the 8 leaf stage the seedlings are very prone to damping off and other fungal diseases and death rates of 90% is not unknown. The death rate can be reduced by good air curculation, very even watering - not too wet and not too dry, keeping plants outside rather than in igloos, weekly fungicide treatments, controlling fungus gnats, good drainage in pots, prayer.