Guichenotia
2025-09-18T16:10:37+10:00
These silvery-foliaged shrubs with their dainty pastel flowers complement sun-loving plants of any colour.
When we think of Australian wildflowers it tends to be the big and bold types such as banksias and waratahs. There are, however, many subtle and delicate wildflowers that can bring delight in your garden. Guichenotias are one such group, with roughly half-a-dozen species being endemic to south-west Western Australia. The name is in honour of Antoine Guichenot, an assistant gardener on French explorer Nicolas Baudin’s 1801–1803 scientific voyage to Australia.
About guichenotia
Guichenotias, with their slightly furry, pendulous, bell-shaped blooms in soft purples, pinks and whites, belong to the mallow family (Malvaceae), which features a number of native hibiscus species and cultivars. The family also includes plants in the cotton genus, Gossypium, among them Sturt’s desert rose (G. sturtianum), the floral emblem of the Northern Territory. (Mauve to lilac in colour, the flower grows throughout the Territory’s arid interior.) Malvaceae’s distinguishing feature is its showy five-petalled, cup-shaped flowers.
The large-flowered guichenotia (G. macrantha) is perhaps the showiest of the genus, as its name would suggest. It grows into a well-rounded shrub up to 2m high and wide and produces masses of pink to mauve blooms in spring. The subtly coloured flowers are complemented by soft grey-green linear leaves. G. macrantha has long been grown on the east coast, where it has proved to be reliable when given suitable conditions.
The pretty, small-flowered guichenotia (G. micrantha) is also lower in stature than its sister species, growing to about a metre in height and width with soft green leaves and pink flowers in late winter and spring, and is particularly good for small gardens, where it can feature as a container plant. G. ledifolia has similar dimensions but is a little more open in its growth habit.
Care and maintenance
Guichenotias flower best in full sun and need a well-drained position to avoid root rot problems. Before planting, dig a hole at least three times the volume of the root ball and mix the recommended amount of a low-phosphorus fertiliser into the soil to be used as backfill. Once established, guichenotias require minimal watering, making them ideal for water-wise gardens. In terms of climate, they are best suited to the southern regions of Australia but are also worth a try in places such as Sydney.
While they are generally pest-free, you may encounter sap-sucking insects such as aphids or spider mites. Generally, these issues will resolve without the need for treatment but if necessary, low-toxicity horticultural soap sprays can be used.
How to use them in your garden
Guichenotias tend to have a compact, bushy habit, making them ideal for borders and rockeries, or as focal points in mixed plantings. The leaves are typically dark green or grey-green and can vary in size and texture among the different species.
Guichenotia can be planted as standalone specimens to add visual interest, or mixed with other drought tolerant plants for a low-maintenance landscape. They look stunning when paired with native shrubs such as boronias, croweas and wax flowers (Chamelaucium spp.), as well as smaller-flowered grevilleas.
| CARE NOTES |
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| Tip prune (2–5cm) young plants every 3–4 weeks through the growing season for the first couple of years to encourage dense growth and more flowers. Water newly planted guichenotia weekly for the first month, then every two weeks for the next 3–4 months to help the plant get established. Prune the spent flowers in late spring or early summer and apply native plant fertiliser to encourage prolific flowering the following year. |
Header image: The large-flowered guichenotia (G. macrantha). Image by Alamy.
