URODON dasyphyllus

A small attractive prostrate shrub up to 60 cm high with yellow/orange/red flowers 10 mm across occur in tight heads 3-4 cm across from July to December in its native range.

The foliage is very hairy to almost glabrous 5-8 mm long.

Urodon is a small genus from the family Fabaceae that occurs naturally in the IBRA region of the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Yalgoo in the South West and Mid West of Western Australia.

Prefers a free draining sandy or gravelly soils. Drought tolerant and frost resistant.

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, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-24°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 briefly for 30 seconds prior to sowing.

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 for 30 seconds.
2. Soak in room temperature water 8-12 hrs.
3. Sow seed on surface of a porous seed raising mix. The seed will lodge in the the pores of the mix once watered.
4. Cover the seed lightly with seed raising mix. 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 water logging the growing mix.
7. Germination should occur in 14-21 days @ 18-24°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.