Eriostemon Winter Rouge
Notify MeFlowering through the coldest months is what earns 'Winter Rouge' its place. Deep pink buds cover the stems from June, opening to pale pink star-shaped flowers that fade almost to white as they age, so the shrub carries all three tones at once. Narrow aromatic leaves release a citrus scent when brushed, which is no surprise in a plant related to citrus. Flowering runs June to October.
A compact evergreen that flowers in winter is genuinely useful. Plant it near an entrance or a path where the scent gets noticed, in a mixed border alongside other dry-climate shrubs, or in a large container on a courtyard. It suits coastal and Mediterranean-style planting and sits well with grevilleas, correas and westringias. Bees work the flowers in the middle of winter.
Give it full sun to part shade and free-draining soil, preferably on the lean and slightly acidic side. This is an Australian shrub and it wants the same conditions as most: good drainage above all, low fertiliser, and no wet feet in winter. It handles frost and dry spells once established. Avoid heavy clay unless the bed is raised.
Grows around 0.8 to 1 m tall and much the same across.
Trimming: Clip lightly all over as soon as flowering finishes in spring, taking off no more than a third of the growth. Regular light trimming keeps the shrub dense and full of flower buds. Do not cut back hard into bare wood.
Deadheading: Not needed. Spent flowers drop cleanly, and the light clip after flowering removes them along with the old growth.
Fertilising: Use a low-phosphorus fertiliser formulated for Australian natives, applied lightly in early spring. Standard garden fertilisers are too strong and can damage the roots.
Watering: Water through the first two summers while establishing. After that it is drought tolerant and needs help only in extended dry weather. Container plants dry out faster and need checking.
Pest Control: Scale insects and mealybugs occasionally settle on stems in a sheltered position and are treated with horticultural oil. Otherwise very little troubles it.
Disease Management: Root rot from phytophthora in poorly drained ground is the main risk. Plant high, keep mulch away from the base, and never let the shrub sit in wet soil over winter.
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