Plant Profile - Correa reflexa var. nummularifolia

Bob Brown, from Cotswold Garden Flowers, profiles one of his favourite winter-flowering shrubs - 24 August 2018

To my mind this is the best Correa. It’s hardy to about -13C (others are only hardy to about -6C) and it’s compact and shapely (others are leggy and gawky). They all bloom overwinter starting in mid autumn or earlier. I prefer selfs like this (flowers that are one colour). Other Correas show two colours.

OK, it’s pale green but then many winter flowering plants have green flowers. Green flowers are forgiveable in winter. It’s special enough that I grow mine in a pot by the front door (a pot’s necessary only because I’d not get it in any other way). Height and spread is 50cm x 55cm,  and it likesany good soil, sun or half shade. Best out of the coldest winds.

Bob Brown owns Cotswold Garden Flowers and is a renowned plantsman, speaker and garden writer. The specialist nursery, based in Evesham, stocks a huge range of unusual perennials, with a focus on good old-fashioned plants, newly introduced plants bred for not only colour and form but for vigour as well, and plants newly introduced from the wild.  

Website: www.cgf.net