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. Further information on the taxonomy of the genus Baeckea and related plants can be found in Geraldton Wax and its Relatives – Background.

In 2021, a paper was published¹ that created a new genus Austrobaeckea comprising eight species including several re-classifications of existing species. Baeckea latens was among the re-classifications and was renamed Austrobaeckea latens. As this has not yet been accepted in the Australian Plant Census, ANPSA retains the former classification for the time being.

Baeckea latens is an erect shrub 0.5 to 1.5 metres high and 1 metre wide. The leaves are narrowly oval shaped or linear about 5 to 8 mm long by 0.5 mm wide.  The white, or sometimes pink, tea tree-like flowers are about 8 – 10 mm in diameter and occur singly or in small groups on short stalks from the leaf axils from spring to early summer.

B.latens does not appear to be widely cultivated but can be expected to be hardy in well drained soils in a sunny or lightly shaded location. It would also be expected to be tolerant of light to moderate frosts, respond well to pruning to develop a well-shaped and attractive bush and withstand extended dry periods 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.

1. Rye, B.L. (2021), Austrobaeckea, a new south-western Australian genus of Myrtaceae (Chamelaucieae: Hysterobaeckeinae). Nuytsia 32: 173-197