Bursaria spinosa Cav. ssp. spinosa

Common name(s): Christmas Bush, Sweet Bursaria, Prickly Box, Castinet Bush

Family: Pittosporaceae Synonym(s): Itea spinosa Andrews, Cyrilla spinosa Andrews, Spreng., Baeckea spinosa Sieber ex Spreng.

Plant

Taken by Unknown Photographer

Leaves

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Bark

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Flowers

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Seeds Scale 0.5mm

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Plant Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

NSW: NS, NT, NC, SP, CS, CT, CC, SS, ST, SC
QLD: CO, KN, KS, LE, PC, BN, WB, DD, MO
SA: FR, EA, EP, NL, SL, YP, KI, SE
TAS: NW, ML, NE, BL, CH, EC, MF, MW, KI, FU
VIC: LM, WI, WA, GR, RI, MI, VP, OP, OR, EH, GP, GH, PR, SN, EG

Plant Type

Evergreen Shrub

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled

Sun - Full,

Shade - Dappled

Habitat Range(s)

Coastal, Garden, Forest - Grassy, Landscape, Mallee Vegetation, Open Woodlands, Sclerophyll Forest - Dry, Shrub Steppe

Coastal,

Garden,

Forest - Grassy,

Landscape,

Mallee Vegetation,

Open Woodlands,

Sclerophyll Forest - Dry,

Shrub Steppe

Habitat Zone(s)

Exposed Stony embankments, Heavy soils, Moist areas, Open areas, Ridges, Scattered, Well drained

Exposed Stony embankments,

Heavy soils,

Moist areas,

Open areas,

Ridges,

Scattered,

Well drained

Mature Height

4-5m, 5-6m

4-5m,

5-6m

Mature Width

2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m,

3-4m

Plant Shape

Bun - Narrow Open

Growth Rate

Moderate

Maturity

2-4 yrs

Life Span

30-50yrs

Leaf Properties

Colour (front)

Glossy, Green Dark

Glossy,

Green Dark

Colour (back)

Dull, Green Dark

Dull,

Green Dark

Shape(s)

Acicular

Elliptical

Acicular,

Elliptical

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leaf Length(s)

30-40mm

Leaf Width(s)

10-15mm

Margin

Entire

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Brown Light , Grey-brown

Brown Light,

Grey-brown

Colour(s) Lower

Grey-brown

Texture(s) Upper

Glabrous

Rough / Scabrous

Glabrous,

Rough / Scabrous

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem Feature(s)

Thorn

Flower Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Time(s)

Spring Late - Summer

Flower Colour(s)

White

Flower Shape(s)

Stellate

Aroma(s)

Sweet-moderate

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Beetles

Bees,

Beetles

Fruit Properties

Type

Capsule - Silicle

Outer Colour(s)

Brown, Dull

Brown,

Dull

Outer Texture

Papery

Rough / Scabrous

Papery,

Rough / Scabrous

Aroma

None

Season of Fruiting

Summer Mid, Summer Late

Summer Mid,

Summer Late

Maturation for Fruiting

2 yrs., 3 yrs.

2 yrs.,

3 yrs.

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Plate

Fibrous,

Plate

Invasiveness

Low

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Clay,

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline, Very Alkaline

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline,

Alkaline,

Very Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist

Dry

Moist,

Dry

Fertile , Poor , Deep , Shallow , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Deep,

Shallow,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering

WR3 - never let soil dry out,

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Good

Bird Attraction

Nectar, Insect, Seed, Nesting

Nectar,

Insect,

Seed,

Nesting

Butterfly Attraction

Very Good

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

Medium

Landscape Use

Good

Maintenance(s)

Pruning - Periodical, Pruning - Shaping

Pruning - Periodical,

Pruning - Shaping

Pests/Diseases

Scale

Special Purpose(s)

Fire Retarding, Fodder, Hedge-formal, Sand Binder, Screen, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Sunny Moist, Windbreak

Fire Retarding,

Fodder,

Hedge-formal,

Sand Binder,

Screen,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Sunny Moist,

Windbreak

Weed Potential(s)

Australia

NSW: Possible
NT: Slight
QLD: Possible
SA: Possible
TAS: Possible
VIC: Possible
WA: Possible

New Zealand

Sth. Is.: Possible
Nth. Is.: Possible

General Notes

A very versatile, multipurpose sweet smelling attractive shrub for the garden or landscape. Plants from drier areas can be quite spiny, while from wetter areas can be almost spineless. Responds well to pruning so can be a good native plant hedge. In a breeze the dry capsules make a pleasant soft rattle with the seed inside, hence one of its common names, the Castinet Bush.

One of the most important plants for the ecology of an area supplying food and refuge for birds and insects.

Aborigines used the flowers for a honey source and the timber for tools and weapons. It has two Aboriginal names Geapga and Kurwan (Dharawal people)

Harvested commercially for extraction of the drug Aesculin from the leaves and the early settlers rubbed the leaves on the skin for the oil within to prevent sunburn.