Sweet Boronia (Boronia megastigma) is one of the most elusive plants I have ever grown. It took more than ten years to find seed and the correct culture. But now that we have both, what a delight this fragrant little plant is. The branches are graceful with needle-like foliage. And in late winter or early spring, delicate bell-shaped flowers appear, dark maroon on the outside and old gold within. In the center of each blossom is a maroon stigma about 1/3; inch across. The flowers last for many weeks., their violet fragrance filling even a large room.
An online friend in the plant’s native Australia first sent me the following instructions for germinating boronia seed and growing the plants. Soak seed in warm water for four days, then sow in a very acid mixture of sifted leafmold, peatmoss and sand. If the sown seeds are kept at 70° germination should take place within a week. When the little plants have several leaves, transfer them to small pots, being careful not to disturb the fine hairy roots. Use the same rich soil mixture in which the seeds were started, adding good garden loam.
Our seeds were sown in June. By Fall the plants were ready for 4-inch pots. They were always in part shade and the second summer were sunk in the ground in the filtered sunlight of pine trues. Similar part shade is desirable. Boronia plants should be kept well pinched the first year. Grow them on the dry side in summer and fall, but after flower buds have formed, never let the plants become even slightly dry. Never apply fertilizer of any kind.
by J Martin
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