Menu
Correa lawrenceana var. rosea is a tall shrub that will reach a height of 3-4 metres.
It is a recognised variety of Correa lawrenceana – a widespread species growing anywhere from 0.5 to 9 metres tall.
Variety rosea is confined to the Snowy Mountains area of NSW, with a few scattered records nearby in Victoria, growing in wet sclerophyll forest.
Correa spp. fall into the subgroup of Rutaceae that have simple and opposite leaves, along with 4-petaled flowers. In this taxon, leaves are dark green and narrow, up to 70 mm long by 15 mm wide, shiny with a leathery texture above and hairy beneath.
Correa spp. often have mostly solitary flowers or up to 10 flowers arranged in cymes. In this taxon, flowers are tubular with petals fused, red and narrow, up to 20 millimetres long and usually solitary. Blooms appear in autumn and winter.
The fruit are composed of small woody cocci (segments) and is referred to as a schizocarpic-capsule with the cocci spliting apart. In this taxon, they are to 9 mm long, surrounded by the persistent corolla tube.
Author’s notes:
Plants are happy to be pruned and may be kept to a lower and bushier height than 4 metres.
Blooms appear in autumn and winter and help to light up our cold climate garden in these cooler months. The glossy leaves contrast nicely with the long, colourful flowers.
We first came across this handsome plant some years ago on a trip to the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales. A number of tall shrubs were growing close to the Geehi River. We were attracted by their glossy foliage and on close inspection found the characteristic, tubular red flowers.
It grows naturally in wet sclerophyll forest – so plant in a shady spot with dappled sun and with reliable moisture. Grow on a well-draining soil with some enrichment (sandy loams to loam).
Propagate from cuttings. In our propagating unit, C. lawrenceana varieties appear to be slower to produce roots than other correas.
There are currently 7 varieties of C. lawrenceana recognised in NSW. C. lawrenceana var. rosea naturally intergrades with C. lawrenceana var. latrobeana in alpine areas.
The type specimen was also collected at this site in 1958 by J. Vickery and named by Paul G. Wilson in 1961.
Most correas would be killed in fire and regenerate from seed after fire.
Correa is a genus of about 11 species, endemic to Australia, occurring in all states except the Northern Territory. NSW currently has 5 species.
Correa – named after Jose Correia de Serra (1750-1823), a Portugese abbot, scientist, politician and polymath who was friends with both Joseph Banks and Thomas Jefferson.
lawrenceana – named after Robert William Lawrence (1807-1833), an Englishman who is considered Tasmania’s first botanist. He died at 26 after very unfortunate family events (see Wikipedia page for further details).
rosea – Latin meaning “pink” – for the red-pink flowers of this variety.
This variety is not currently considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild.
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Correa lawrenceana and var. rosea profile pages https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=in&name=Correa~lawrenceana~var.+rosea
https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Correa~lawrenceana
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.
Hitchcock, M. (2010). Correas – Australian Plants for Waterwise Gardening. Rosenburg Publishing 2010.
Australian Native Plants Society Australia – Correa lawrenceana profile page http://anpsa.org.au/plant_profiles/correa-lawrenceana/