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Correa ‘Coliban River’ is a dense shrub that reaches a maximum height of two metres.
It is a cultivar of Correa glabra var glabra.
Specimens of the cultivar were collected, in 1986, from near Kyneton, northwest of Melbourne, Victoria.
Correa spp. fall into the subgroup of Rutaceae that have simple and opposite leaves, along with 4-petaled flowers.
In this cultivar, narrow leaves are three centimetres long, glossy on top and paler below. The Correa glabra group have unusual, aromatic foliage.
Correa spp. often have mostly solitary flowers or up to 10 flowers arranged in cymes. In this cultivar, tubular flowers are 2 centimetres long, yellowish green with flared tips, produced solitarily in leaf axils. The main flowering period extends from autumn through winter with sporadic flowering at other times.
The fruit are composed of small woody cocci (segments) and is referred to as a schizocarpic-capsule with the cocci spliting apart. In this cultivar, they are to 8 mm long, white to green, surrounded by the persistent corolla tube.
Author’s Notes:
Correa ‘Coliban River’ is a very hardy, free flowering shrub. If you only have room for one correa, then this cultivar would be worth considering. Occasional tip pruning is appreciated.
This is one of many native plants that will take kindly to container culture.
In autumn and winter our plants are covered in blooms for months.
Plant in a shady to sunny spot in well-draining soil. Give some protection from western sun and heat. Prune after flowering to encourage a denser bush.
As with most Correas, this cultivar propagates readily and rapidly from cuttings.
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.
‘Coliban River’ – named for the Coliban River which flows east of Kyneton – where this form was collected.
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
Austrlian Cultivar Registration Authority – Correa glabra var. glabra ‘Coliban River’ profile page https://acra.biodiversity.services/info/rdetail/507