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Dampiera stricta is a dwarf, suckering soft-wooded perennial, often multi-stemmed and reaching a height of 60 centimetres, with a spread that may reach one metre. It can be erect to decumbent.
It has a mostly coastal distribution in NSW, recorded heavily in the central coast botanical subdivision, and less so on the south and north coasts, west to areas such as Braidwood, Tallong, Lithgow, Kandos and Tenterfield areas. It extends in Victoria, mainly through the south-eastern quarter to around Melbourne. It extends into Queensland, mostly coastal, to around Fraser Island. It also extends into the islands eastern islands of Bass Strait and eastern Tasmania.
It tends to be found on very sandy to sandstone substrates, in heath, shrubland and open dry sclerophyll woodland to forests.
Dampiera spp. have simple and alternate leaves. In this species, leaves are linear to elliptic or lanceolate, to 4.5 cm long and 2 cm wide; generally sessiles and toothed to entire; mid green in colour.
Dampiera have 5-merous flowers, with a more or less rotate corolla. In this species, flowers are produced in leaf axils and terminals; solitarily or in 2s, to 3 cm long and about 2 cm across, an unusual sky-blue to deep mauve-blue, often seen at most times of the year.
The fruit is a nut, to 5 mm long, ribbed and rusty-hairy.
A very showy species in some instances, especially in sandstone areas after bushfire.
It is known to be grown but is not as popular as other Dampiera species.
Dampiera stricta would be an ideal candidate for cultivation in cottage gardens, rockeries and containers.
It is best grown in sandy well-draining soils in full sun. Check with native nurseries for availability.
Cut off the flowers as they fade to encourage more flowering.
It could make a nice effect if grown in substantial clumps of 10 or more plants.
Propagate from suckering stems. We have had some success propagating leaf cuttings.
The flower illustrated is from a cultivar known as ‘Glasshouse Glory’.
This species regenerates readily after fire and can be seen in large numbers in sandstone heathland after fire.
Dampiera is a genus of around 65 species – endemic to Australia, occurring in all states and territories. NSW currently has 7 species.
Dampiera – the genus refers to William Dampier (1651-1715) – the first Englishman acknowledged as setting foot in Australia, who collected species of flora and fauna in Western Australia.
erecta – Latin – ‘erect’ – having an erect and open growth habit.
This species is not considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild.
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Dampiera stricta profile page https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Dampiera~stricta
Gardening with Angus – Dampiera stricta profile page https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/dampiera-stricta-blue-dampiera/
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.