Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority

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Common name: Blue Leschenaultia

Family: GOODENIACEAE

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

With intense, vivid blue flowers in its common form, the Blue Leschenaultia is hard to miss when flowering between July and December. These flowers, at 20 to 30 mm, are quite large considering the small size of the plant which generally only grows to 50 cm. Paler colour forms are also known in this species, as is a pure white form.

This iconic Western Australian native shrub is found mainly on the Darling Range in gravelly soils, but also occurs as far north as Geraldton and as far east as Lake King.

Horticultural tips

Easily propagated by cuttings, with most success in late spring and summer. Semi-hardened material 6 to 10 cm long gives the best results.
Plant in well-drained soils.
Prefers dry summers, with an occasional summer watering.
Requires mulching.

For more horticultural tips view our Plant Notes section.

View in Kings Park

Visit Kings Park and Botanic Garden to see the many plantings of Lechenaultia biloba in and around the entry to the the Western Australian Botanic Garden.