Correa reflexa

Correa reflexa, an Australian native, gets its common name from the fuchsia-like flowers that adorn this shrub in fall, winter and spring, depending on the climate.

For the warmer regions with few frost dates, gardeners can enjoy flowers from October through April. Check out other Correa species including pulchella, alba, backhouseana and hybrid crosses.
 

Why grow C. reflexa?

• The flowers — enough said. Bell-shaped flowers come in several colors including pale green, red, red with yellow or cream tips, and several other variations. The flowers attract pollinators.

• Correa are exceptionally tough, tolerating drought, salt spray, poor soil, wind and deer.

• It’s not common in the North American trade, and could be a high-value plant.

Sources: San Francisco Botanical Garden, Digging Dog Nursery, Australian Native Plants Society and Australian National Botanic Gardens.