Correa Glabra

Rock Correa / Smooth Correa

Botanical Name: Correa glabra
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: Australia (native to South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales)
Plant Type: Evergreen native shrub

Overview

A hardy, versatile Australian native shrub prized for its dense, glossy foliage and long flowering season. Correa glabra produces elegant, tubular green to yellow-green flowers from autumn through spring, often extending into early summer in Adelaide’s mild climate. Naturally occurring in South Australia, it thrives in dry, rocky, or coastal sites and is ideal for low hedges, native borders, or as a bird-attracting feature shrub. With excellent drought, frost, and wind tolerance, it’s a dependable performer in both inland and coastal gardens across SA.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1–2 m H × 1–2 m W (can be pruned smaller)
• Growth Rate: 20–40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy, dark green to olive-green leaves; aromatic when crushed; compact and evergreen
• Flowers: Tubular, greenish-yellow blooms mainly autumn–spring; sometimes flushed with pink or red tones depending on form and conditions
  
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure with extended flowering from autumn through spring, providing colour and nectar during cooler months
• Wildlife Value: Highly attractive to nectar-feeding birds (especially honeyeaters), native bees, and butterflies; dense foliage provides shelter for small birds
• Tolerance: Drought and heat tolerant once established; Frost hardy; Excellent wind and coastal tolerance (including second-line coastal sites); Performs well on sandy, loamy, or rocky soils; tolerates moderate salinity and limestone
• Planting Density: Hedge or border: 1 plant per metre (0.6–0.8 m for tighter screen); Specimen or mixed planting: 1.2–1.5 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs; safe for family gardens

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (tolerates semi-shade under light canopy)
• Soil: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soil; adapts to slightly alkaline and limestone-based soils common in Adelaide
• Water Needs: Establishment: light soak 1–2 times/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: Deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (more during extreme heat); minimal watering in winter
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; lightly prune after flowering to maintain compact shape and encourage new growth. Mulch annually in spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid heavy fertilisers—use a low-phosphorus native blend if needed.
• Lifespan: 15–25+ years in suitable conditions; long-lived native shrub
• Climate Zones: Perfectly suited to temperate and Mediterranean climates across South Australia, including Adelaide plains, Hills, and coastal districts
• Soil pH: Tolerates a broad range from slightly acidic to alkaline; thrives on SA’s limestone and sandy soils

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Native and wildlife gardens: excellent habitat shrub for birds and pollinators
• Low informal hedge or boundary planting
• Coastal and dryland gardens: perfect for SA’s windy, salt-affected conditions
• Understorey planting beneath eucalypts or open canopy trees
• Mixed native borders with Eremophila, Westringia, and Dianella

Why You Will Love It

A resilient, evergreen native that brings soft colour and structure year-round. Correa glabra thrives in Adelaide’s climate—heat, drought, frost, and coastal exposure are no challenge. Its graceful green bells attract birds through winter and spring, adding life and natural beauty to any South Australian garden.