Lechenaultia biloba
Family: GOODENIACEAE (13 Genera)
Origin of Scientific Name
Lechenaultia - After Jean Baptiste Louis Claude Théodore Leschenault de la Tour (1773 - 1826). The genus is spelled without the ‘s', because Robert Brown, who named the plant, misspelled Leschenault's name. The common name however, is spelled with the 's'.
biloba - Latin = two-lobed, referring to the corolla lobes of the flowers.
Description
Small twiggy shrub to 30 cm, with intense, vivid blue flowers in its common form, though paler forms are known, as is a pure white form. Linear, narrow, mid green leaves. The flowers, at 20 to 30 mm are quite large considering the small size of the plant.
Distribution
Flowering Season
July to December.
Cultivation/Propagation
The plant is not long-lived, three to four years being its most probable life span, but luckily, the species is easily propagated by cuttings, with most success in late spring and summer. Semi-hardened material 6 to 10 cm long gives the best results. In cultivation it is essential that the plant is grown in a sandy, well-drained situation. It prefers dry summers, so do not over-water. It is frost tolerant.
Pests and Diseases
May be susceptible to aphids.