Bursaria spinosa [Pittosporaceae]; Sweet BursariaIn line with our penchant for fine-leaved, messy and illegible shrubs, we think this species is has a lot of desirable qualities for landscape projects. Perhaps I’m also interested in this species due to its visual similarity to New Zealand divaricates (see In a Tangle on our ‘Words’ page). The reduced leaf size, compact, almost tangling yet open form.
It is nice to see it being used occasionally (in the inner west I know two recently planted locations on public land), however it is not common. This may be due to the fact that it has spines reminiscent of hypodermic-needles, that are easily lodged in a gardener’s hand, or perhaps it is just aesthetic taste.
Either way the positive attributes must not be ignored: It is a graceful species with pyramid-like panicles of tiny white flowers in summer. These are frequented by a range of insects: native bees, hoverflies, other Diptera, beetles, et cetera. Its spines and foliage make an excellent refuge for small bird species. As with many other species from its family (e.g. Billardiera and Pittosporum), it thrives in the conditions of a garden, handling relative extremes of moisture, nutrients, light and humidity
Sadly however, we are yet to make this species flower profusely in a planted context. Perhaps neglect and drought stress are required to initiate the heavy flowering that can be witnessed on roadsides in summer.
In certain natural areas this excellent performance means that Sweet Bursaria can become a problem, such as in the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodlands where – if left to its own devices, and without regular fire – it will take over this understory and shade-out the diverse ground later, minimising diversity. As with most ecosystems in Australia, it comes down to correct fire frequency and intensity, something that indigenous Australians have known for millennia.
Makes a good human-sized shrub or even small tree.
