General Description:

George Bentham in 1867 established a broad concept for the genus Baeckea but in recent years studies have shown that, because of differences in the group, many Baeckea species should be placed into other genera, including Ochrosperma, Triplarina, Babingtonia, Euryomyrtus, Kardomia, and Sannantha. Babingtonia is a genus of 11 species all of which are endemic to Western Australia. Further information on the taxonomy of the genus Babingtonia and related plants can be found in Geraldton Wax and its Relatives – Background.

Babingtonia grandiflora is a small shrub 0.3 to 1 metre high. Leaves are linear to narrowly oval-shaped and up to 10 mm long. The tea tree-like flowers are about 15 mm in diameter and occur at the ends of short stalks. The petals are white or pale pink with a central cluster of up to 25 pink stamens. Flowering occurs in spring.

This species is reasonably well known in cultivation. It is a hardy plant in well drained soils, preferably in full sun or dappled shade. It is tolerant of at least moderate frost and withstands extended dry conditions once established.

Seed germinates well without pretreatment but is difficult to collect as it is released from the small seed capsules when ripe. Cuttings of firm, current season’s growth strike readily.