Thryptomene saxicola 'FC Payne'

Thryptomene / Rock Thryptomene

Botanical Name: Thryptomene saxicola ‘F.C. Payne’
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Western Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen native shrub

Overview

A much-loved Australian native, Thryptomene ‘F.C. Payne’ is a hardy, fine-textured shrub covered in masses of tiny pink flowers from late winter through spring. Exceptionally well-suited to Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate, it thrives in dry, sunny, and coastal conditions where many plants fail. With its aromatic foliage, graceful weeping habit, and exceptional drought tolerance, it’s ideal for native gardens, rockeries, and mixed shrub borders across South Australia.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.6–1.0 m H × 1.0–1.5 m W (compact, rounded to slightly arching habit)
• Growth Rate: 20-35 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine, aromatic, grey-green needle-like leaves; may develop silvery or bronze tones in cold or drought
• Flowers: Masses of small pink to mauve five-petalled blooms, appearing late winter to mid-spring (July–October) and sporadically at other times
  
• Seasonal Interest: Early-season floral display followed by attractive evergreen foliage year-round
• Wildlife Value: Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other native pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, coastal-tolerant (front-line); light frost (protect from hard frost)
• Planting Density: 1–2 plants per m² or 0.6–0.8 m apart for a continuous border
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ingesting large amounts of foliage may cause mild tummy upset

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun preferred; tolerates light or dappled shade, though flowering may reduce
• Soil: Free-draining sandy or gravelly soils are ideal; tolerates limestone and slightly alkaline soils common around Adelaide
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Lightly tip prune after flowering to maintain compact form and encourage next year’s blooms; Avoid heavy pruning into old wood; Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser in spring if desired
• Lifespan: 10–15+ years in suitable conditions
• Climate Zones: Thrives in Mediterranean and temperate South Australia, from Adelaide plains to coastal and inland hills
• Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline (tolerates mildly acidic soils)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Cottage & Native Gardens: Blend with Grevillea, Chrysocephalum, and Westringia for soft textures and extended flowering
• Coastal & Dry Gardens: Superb choice for low-water, exposed sites—withstands wind and salt near coastal Adelaide
• Alfresco & Courtyard Spaces: Grow in decorative pots or raised beds for a delicate, fine-textured accent
• Mass Planting & Edging: Plant in drifts or low rows for a pink-flowering border through late winter and spring
• Rockeries & Slopes: Natural cascading form makes it ideal for rock gardens or embankments, softening edges beautifully

Why You Will Love It

A South Australian garden favourite for decades, Thryptomene ‘F.C. Payne’ brings early pink colour, aromatic foliage, and incredible resilience to dry, coastal, or stony soils. Its fine texture and reliability make it a signature plant for low-water native and Mediterranean landscapes, flowering when most others are bare.