Nuytsia floribunda
Family: LORANTHACEAE (75 Genera)
Origin of Scientific Name
Nuytsia – After Pieter Nuyts or Nuijts (1598 – 1655), Dutch mariner, explorer, and diplomat, who happened to be aboard the Dutch ship, Gulden Zeepaert (Golden Seahorse) in 1627, when it accidentally discovered the south western coast of Australia at Cape Leeuwin.
floribunda – Latin floris = flower + abundus = abounding in.
Description
Tree or shrub to 10 m tall (in its natural habitat) with rough, grey-brown bark, vivid yellow/orange flowers occurring in clusters on branched inflorescences. It has long thick leaves of variable shape. This is the largest parasitic plant in the world, and is related to mistletoe.
Distribution
Found only in the south-west corner of Western Australia; Kalbarri National Park on the north-west coast to Cape Le Grande on the south-east coast. Refer to the distribution map for this species via the Department of Environment and Conservation's FloraBase online herbarium.
Flowering Season
October to January
Cultivation/Propagation
The seeds are relatively easy to germinate, but due to the need for suitable host plant/plants, they are generally regarded as very difficult to grow to maturity outside of their natural habitat, and are not available in nurseries. If you’re intent on growing one, do some research - there are a few success stories out there.
View In Kings Park
Adjacent to the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Fountain at the lower level of the Acacia steps. To help locate this site, you may download the Western Australian Botanic Garden Guide brochure via our brochures page. Due to the limited rainfall in Perth, they will not reach their full height potential, but still flower spectacularly.