Ideal Position
Free-flowering Lechenaultia is versatile, enjoying a range of positions. Suitable for denser plantings and will perform well in full sun or light shade.
Free-flowering Lechenaultia is ideally placed at the front of your garden bed.
When to Plant and Watering
Plant young seedlings in Djeran (mid-Autumn) prior to the Makuru rains (Winter). Avoid planting in the hottest times of the year.
Seedlings should be watered twice a week over their first summer in the garden. It is important to ensure water penetrates down into the root-zone.
We recommend using a soil wetting agent as Perth soils are often ‘water repellent’, or do not absorb water effectively.
A layer of composted, coarse mulch can help in getting your garden started. It will help by reducing water loss and suppressing the growth of weeds.
Free-flowering Lechenaultia generally have low water requirements but will benefit from deep-watering in summer.
Deep-water by applying about 3L per plant once a fortnight, increasing to weekly intervals during heatwaves.
For best results, use a wetting agent to ensure water penetrates the soil effectively.
Free-flowering Lechenaultia should be grouped with other plants which benefit from occasional summer watering.
Feeding and Soil Care
Free-flowering Lechenaultia don’t need fertiliser because they are adapted to grow in our local soils, which are typically low in nutrients.
Plants will benefit from adding some vegetable-based compost (avoid those with manure) into the soil at planting.
As your garden develops, practice ‘cut and drop’ when you prune your plants. The leaf and branch material that falls to the ground slowly breaks down over time, releasing nutrients to help your garden to grow.
How to Prune
Free-flowering Lechenaultia generally don’t need pruning for shape, as their natural growth is usually attractive and/or interesting.
If part of the plant dies or grows in an undesired direction, prune from the base of the stem in question with a pair of secateurs or loppers.
You can also leave dead leaves and branches on the plant, as they provide valuable habitat and camouflage for insects.
