Verticordia cooloomia
Common name: Cooloomia Verticordia
Family: MYRTACEAE (c. 150 Genera)
Origin of Scientific Name
Verticordia - reference to the ancient Roman goddess Venus, literally translated means ‘turner of hearts’.
cooloomia – refers to the Cooloomia Nature Reserve where this species occurs.
Description
A slender shrub to 2.5m tall, or broadly spreading to almost 3m in diameter in its natural habitat. It is clearly recognised by three different leaf forms and has thick bright green foliage, whitish new stems and large prominent heads of brightly coloured yellow flowers. Grows in yellow sand on ridges in tall open banksia shrubland and over limestone with some capstone in low heath and open shrubland.
Distribution
In the south-west of Western Australia, occurring in and near Cooloomia Nature Reserve north of the lower Murchison River. V. cooloomia has a priority 3 conservation status – it appears restricted to only three or four populations.
Refer to the distribution map for this species via the Department of Environment and Conservation’s FloraBase online herbarium.
Flowering Season
October to March.
Cultivation/Propagation
Forms a bushy shrub to 1-2 m tall, when kept regularly pruned after flowering. Requires full sun and plenty of air circulation for healthy growth and prolific flowering. Best grown using sub-surface drip irrigation.
Looks spectacular when planted in rockeries and in association with other Verticordia sp. or when planted with Anigozanthus rufus ‘Kings Park Federation Flame’ which is in flower the same time of year. Propagation is from cuttings from new growth, except from the flowering head. Cuttings strike readily, especially during autumn.
Pests and Diseases
May be susceptible to fungal attack during humid weather or if overcrowded and also attack from scale.
View in Kings Park
This species can be found in gardens at the Administration Building, at the entry to the Western Australian Botanic Garden and in the Roe Gardens (refer to map).
Notes
The species was first collected by Dr Stephen Hopper (former BGPA Chief Executive Officer), who discovered it while carrying out a survey of Cooloomia Nature Reserve during the spring season of 1979.