Rhagodia Aussie Flat Bush

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade, inland or on the coast, by the company that markets it, which lists it for New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, inland Queensland away from humid areas, South Australia and Western Australia. The company gives frost tolerance to -5 C; the plant patent calls it tolerant of light frosts and highly salt and drought tolerant, and gives USDA zones 9 to 11.

Soil and water. Most soil types, heavy soils included. The company's care note is to water as required for 8 to 13 weeks until it is established, in a well-mulched bed, with slow-release fertiliser in spring if needed; it is highly drought tolerant and suits low or higher rainfall areas.

Pruning. By the company's account it performs best pruned once a year, or twice a year in gardens for a manicured look; on roadsides it can be pruned less often or not at all.

Flowers. The company's flyer says it rarely flowers, and the plant patent records that flowering was not observed on the plants it describes.

The company that markets it lists roadsides, slopes and commercial and residential landscapes, inland and coastal, for mass planting and as a garden specimen. Its planting density is one to two plants per square metre, which works out at 0.7 to 1 m centres, or one to two plants per linear metre. In gardens the company prunes it twice a year for a manicured look, and on roadsides less often or not at all. The plant patent calls it highly salt tolerant as well as drought tolerant.

Aussie Flat Bush is the trade name; the cultivar name on the label is 'SAB01', and growers list it beside the straight species and other selections, so check you are quoting the same plant before comparing prices. The table above shows the sizes growers list; for the roots, pests and hardening off to check, see the HortOS guide to judging nursery plant quality. Stock that crosses a state border moves under the state and territory biosecurity rules on plants and soil.