Boronia crenulata Shark Bay

Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay' is a variety of Boronia with crenate leaves that stands out for its long pale pink spring flowering. It is a very compact and very floriferous bush that forms a dense ball of reddish, flexible, highly branched branches that slightly droop, and that beautifully decorates pots and borders with other exotic species. Very small, persistent, thick, glossy, dark green, anise-flavoured leaves cover the entire stems like a wild and flowering boxwood. Its cup-shaped flowers with 4 waxy petals appear numerous and continuously renew from March to April. It is a bush that prefers sunny exposures and neutral to acidic, rich, well-drained and moist soils. Hardy down to -5 °C, it is a perfect choice for gardens with a mild climate. However, avoid scorching sun that tends to wilt its foliage and prevent it from blooming.

Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay' is a bush belonging to the Rutaceae family, native to Australia. Its species name, crenulata, refers to its small finely dentate leaves. Of medium growth and modest size, this spreading bush will reach an average height of 80cm (31.5in) with a wingspan of 1m. It develops thin reddish, arched, almost parallel branches, branched almost at each node along their entire length. They bear very small, dark green, ovate to elongated leaves similar to boxwood leaves, thick, glossy, and emit an anise aroma when crushed. The flowering, particularly long and abundant, lasts from March to May. A multitude of flowers appear in the axils of the leaves, solitary or grouped in small clusters. They are small stars larger than the leaves, composed of 4 pale pink petals with a waxy appearance, topped with a green pistil, very well-suited for bouquets and continuously renewing.

Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay' cannot withstand temperatures below -5/-6 °C, does not tolerate limestone or dry soils or scorching exposures. Its requirements are clear and must be respected to succeed in its cultivation and enjoy its magnificent flowering. Apart from certain well-targeted areas of our Atlantic coast, it seems preferable to cultivate it in a pot, where the substrate and wintering conditions can be controlled. In the garden, it can be associated, for example, with Galvezia speciosa, Gomphostigma virgatum, brush brooms, or white, pink, or red heather shrubs. On the terrace or balcony, it can be surrounded by Cape leadwort, which has a long blue flowering period, Tibouchina, or Myrtus communis. Its spikes of small fragrant flowers in bright pink are wonderful in country bouquets.