Real World Gardener Rock Thryptomene in Plant of the Week

PLANT OF THE WEEK Thryptomene sp and Thryptomene saxicola F.C.Payne There are some plants that can be forgiven for not doing much for most of the year, then, when they come into flower, they become the star of the garden. In a way, they behave like a spring or summer bulbs, because they’re practically invisible until they pop out and flower their heads off. <a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0AjL85QymM/X3AFf7I-TEI/AAAAAAAAixo/WXJRjwoHhzkGIwFdwCBbD7I5YeiFIZ47wCLcBGAsYHQ/s982/Thryptomene.jpg'></a> So what is this Thryptomene which I have been alluding to?  Let’s find out more…  I'm talking with Adrian O’Mally, qualified horticulturist and native plant expert. PLAY:Thryptomene NEW_26th August 2020  Rock thryptomene is as close to a common name as you'll get for this plant. Growth is as for a sub-shrub 0.75 – 1.5m tall by 1 – 1.5 wide. <ul><li>Adrian came across seven thryptomene planted along a bank with a south-east aspect.</li> <li>They had grown leggy so to keep your shrub bushy, keep up the formative pruning in the early stages.</li> <li>Doing this you will able to keep the shrub to 60cm in height.</li> </ul> Thryptomene is evergreen with a slightly weeping habit and  aromatic small leaves are small. You may find it as a filler in bouquets because the tiny 5-petalled flowers blend well with larger flowers of any kind. Thryptomene saxicola (pictured below)   <a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x2oB-RZOXEc/X3AHtsLmulI/AAAAAAAAix0/860HJjV3hBY5n5GFaZSC7pVgNXvGM4FjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Thryptomene_saxicola-flowers.jpg'></a> Thryptomene paynei, then newly introduced to New Zealand was "raised by FC Payne of Adelaide". F.C. Payne was the owner of "The Sanctuary" plant nursery in Ashton, in the Adelaide hills of South Australia who promoted the use of Australian native plants in local gardens. By 1967 the cultivar had become a "garden favourite" in Australia and was featured in a gardening guide for native plants in The Australian Women's Weekly. Bird and insect attracting plants always make a lo