SHRUB Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa FAST FACTS Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa ) is an Seed : Small green, hearted-shaped Shrub Australian native shrub from around Ballarat. “purses” containing seed turn golden- Family: Pittosporaceae brown as they ripen and remain on the Location : Bursaria likes a sunny position Pittosporum shrub for several months. Yellow-tailed and will grow into an attractive small tree if Size: 4m H x 2m W Black-Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas and the lower branches are removed. It has Position: Sunny other seed eating birds feast on the fruit so sharp spines along the stems so keep it at Soil: Well drained consider placing a bird-bath nearby. the back of a garden bed and plant smaller Flowers: Summer shrubs and groundcovers around the trunk Planting : Plant in a hole not much larger Fruits: Brown capsules to keep animals and children away. than the pot within a few days of purchase Care: Low maintenance and provide a full bucket of water Leaves : Glossy bright green leaves give the immediately. garden a lush look over dry summer months. Care : It’s probably best to remove lower Flowers : Bursaria in flower is one of our stems from young plants so that the thorny most beautiful and fragrant shrubs. It is canopy branches develop above head covered in clusters of small, cream flowers height. Wear gardening gloves and remove during mid-summer when much else in the the thorny branches to a safe place. garden is in decline. You will be delighted by the large number of native bees and Propagation : Good luck collecting seed butterflies which flock to feed on sweet from the brown capsules before the birds nectar and pollen. eat them all. For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www. federation.edu.au/ipbg .