DAVIESIA horrida

An attractive flowering shrub with an erect stem with slender branches. Leaves (phylloclades) are narrow and pointed. Yellow-orange and red-brown pea shaped flowers occurring in clusters during July to November.

Easily grown with beautiful flowers and foliage very suitable for dried flower arrangements. It is an excellent planted in a container or the garden.

Occurs naturally in the South-west province of Western Australian between Perth and Albany.

Prefers a light to medium moist soil in a open sunny position. Drought and frost tender.

Grow notes:

Although seed can be sown most of the year in many parts of Australia seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C

Seed germinate readily, however they do have a hard outer coating which is impervious to water. To assist in the uptake of moisture for germination to occur seed best scarified by pre-treating with hot water first.

Hot water treatment is recommended for this species.

1. Place the seed in a container and pour in just boiled water and allow to soak overnight.
2. The swollen seed can then be sown, re-treat seeds that have not swollen.
3. Sow seed 3-4mm deep
4. Cover with seed raising mix to a depth of the seed width. Do not bury the seed to deeply.
5. Place in a warm shaded or semi shaded position to avoid dying out.
6. Keep warm & moist, avoid drying out or waterlogging the growing mix.
7. Germination should occur in 10-21 days @ 18-22°C

General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.