Menu
Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ is a form of Correa pulchella selected in the wild from a population on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
It is small and compact, growing to a height of about 0.3 metres with a spread of 1.5 metres.
Correa spp. fall into the subgroup of Rutaceae that have simple and opposite leaves, along with 4-petaled flowers. In this cultivar, leaves are glossy, mid-green above and paler beneath, oval in shape and to 15 mm long by about 10 mm or more wide.
Correa spp. often have mostly solitary flowers or up to 10 flowers arranged in cymes. In this cultivar, the flowers are the outstanding feature; tubular and bright orange with pale pink on the petal tips, to around 25 mm long by 15 mm wide at the opening. As well as being conspicuous, the blooms are also profuse and cover the plants, mostly in Autumn.
The long flowering period extends from autumn to winter. Winter flowering plants are always welcome in cold climate gardens when blooms tend to be a trifle scarce. As with all correas, ‘Autumn Blaze’ flowers attract honeyeaters. Tip pruning will increase both foliage density and flowers.
Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ will survive and thrive in well drained sites either in full sun or partial shade and lends itself to container cultivation. A friend has Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ growing successfully in a pot. The plant blooms bounteously during the cooler months.
Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ could also be grown as a border plant, in native cottage gardens and rockeries.
All cultivars must be propagated from cuttings to retain true-to-type forms.
For those interested in Correas we recommend the book Correas: Australian Plants for Waterwise Gardens by Maria Hitchcock, a life member of the Australian Plants Society. This is a splendid publication covering all aspects of the identification, propagation and cultivation of this unique Australian genus.
Correa is a genus of 11 species, endemic to Australia, 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.
‘Autumn Blaze’ – named for the main flowering period in Autumn.
Botanic Gardens of South Australia Plant Selector – Correa pulchella ‘Autumn Blaze’ profile page. https://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/Plants/Details/1112