Municipalities

Scientific Name

Pimelea nivea

Family Name

THYMELAEACEAE

Common Name

Round-leaf Rice Flower, Cotton Bush

Status

Height

0.6m - 2.0m (60-200cm)

Flowers

10 or more white or pinkish heads of flowers at ends of main branches. Tubular.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Shrub, slender leafy branches.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Central Highlands; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Widespread

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Common & widespread on rocky hillsides to 1000m.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Rocky; Rocky; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Clay; Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Well-drained

General Notes

Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Traditional Palawa use: the bark was used for string. Attracts butterflies. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Fruits dry, surrounded by long hairs. seed releases very quickly once ripe especially during hot weather. leave to mature in warm place. rub over screen to remove covering

Seed Treatment Method

Smoke

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Very difficult to grow from seed. Smoke treatment has improved results slightly for some species. Some success has also been reported with burning of small twigs & leaf litter on top of seed; results erratic. May respond to combination of heat & smoke.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Usually grown from cuttings. Care should be taken not to strip back the young bark. Slow to strike.