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

Cross Section(s)

Flat

Venation(s)

Reticulate

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Emarginate

Obtuse

Emarginate,

Obtuse

Base(s)

Attenuate

Attachment

Petiolate

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

Textures(s) Lower

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

Petal Shape(s)

Oblanceolate

Aroma(s)

Sweet-moderate

Arrangement(s)

Pannicle

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Beetles

Bees,

Beetles

Petal Number

Fruit Properties

Type

Capsule - Silicle

Shape(s)

Obovate

Reniform

Obovate,

Reniform

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.

Seed Properties

Type

Achene

Colour(s)

Brown

Shape(s)

Reniform

Texture(s)

Smooth

Seed Dispersal

Ants, Birds

Ants,

Birds

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Plate

Fibrous,

Plate

Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Pliable , Stiff

Pliable,

Stiff

Colour(s)

Brown Dark

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

Wood Density

N/A

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed, Regrowth, Ligno-tuber

Seed,

Regrowth,

Ligno-tuber

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

Medium

Smog Tolerant

Good

Indigenous Use(s)

Flower, Wood

Flower,

Wood

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Honey, Leaves

Honey,

Leaves

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

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Soft Wood Cuttings, Tip Cuttings

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.

Propagation Notes

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Fresh Seed

Flowering

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Seed Collecting

Jan, Feb, Mar

Sowing

Jul, Aug, Sep

Material Preparation

Clean. Store in a cool dark place.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

3 parts Seed Raising Mix + 1 part washed sand

Treatment

Sow seed, cover with thin layer of soil and then fine gravel, keep moist, place outside.

Viable seeds/gram:- 190

Germination time:- fresh 3 - 6 weeks

Pricking out:- 2 - 6 weeks after germination

Tube Mix:- 3 part Seed Raising Mix + 1 part washed sand

Notes

Stratifying the seed by placing it in moist sand in the refrigerator for 5-6 weeks prior to sowing does seem to enhance germination.

For direct seeding, sow from early-winter in low rainfall areas and mid-winter in higher rainfall areas.

Seedlings/gram of seed:- 47

Soft Wood Cuttings

Flowering

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Cutting

Apr, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb

Material Preparation

Firm wood, tip, stem cuttings. Cutting approx. 30 - 50mm long with at least 2-4 nodes, remove lower leaves. Mist frequently to keep hydrated or place in a bowl or water.

Propagating Mix

1 part Cocopeat + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep. Water tray of mix and thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide. Dip end of cutting in Easiroot rooting hormone. Press gently using a dibber into tray of mix. Mist frequently while continuing cutting process. Place on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock %

Nursery Stock %

Rooting time:- Field Stock weeks

Nursery Stock weeks