Bursaria spinosa - Evergreen Trees Direct

Bursaria spinosa

$150.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm/33cm

25cm 30cm/33cm 40cm/45L

Current Stock Height Guides

25cm: Enquire within for height guide information.
30cm: Enquire within for height guide information.
40cm/45L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 10m (approx.)

Mature Width: 4m to 6m

Bursaria spinosa is expected to grow 30cm to 50cm per year (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Contact

Have a question or a list to send through to us?

Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Bursaria spinosa

Bursaria spinosa covers itself in sprays of small honey-scented white flowers through summer, filling the garden with fragrance and drawing butterflies, native bees and beneficial insects in unusual numbers. Sweet Bursaria is one of the most important habitat plants in southern Australia.

Bursaria spinosa grows to 2 to 10 metres tall and 4 to 6 metres wide at 30 to 50 centimetres per year, with the size depending heavily on conditions. Dense spiny branching makes it an effective stock-proof and intruder-resistant screen, and provides protected nesting habitat for small birds.

This Australian native tolerates light to moderate frost once established, along with poor soils, extended dry and coastal exposure. It grows in full sun and is a mainstay of revegetation, shelterbelt and biodiversity planting across southern Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Bursaria spinosa

How big does Bursaria spinosa grow?

Bursaria spinosa is variable, ranging from a 2 metre shrub in exposed dry sites to a 10 metre small tree in sheltered fertile conditions, spreading 4 to 6 metres wide.

Is Bursaria spinosa an Australian native?

Yes. It is native across much of southern and eastern Australia and is a key species in grassy woodland and dry forest communities.

When does Sweet Bursaria flower?

Sprays of small honey-scented white flowers appear through summer. The fragrance is noticeable from some distance and the display lasts several weeks.

Does Bursaria spinosa attract butterflies?

Yes. It is one of the most important butterfly plants in southern Australia and is the critical food plant for the endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly.

Is it suitable as a security or stock-proof hedge?

Yes. The dense spiny branching forms an effective barrier, which is why it has traditionally been used as a stock-proof hedge on rural properties.

Is Bursaria spinosa frost tolerant?

It handles light to moderate frost once established, and tolerates poor soils, extended dry and coastal exposure with no ongoing maintenance.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Plant 2 to 3 metres apart for a dense habitat screen or shelterbelt, or 4 to 5 metres apart where individual plants should develop fully.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Screening or Privacy
Rural Property Planting
Revegetation or Regeneration

Bursaria spinosa works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Wildlife Garden – planting to attract birds, bees, and pollinators.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Bursaria spinosa Evergreen or Deciduous?

Bursaria spinosa is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 10m (approx.)

Mature Width: 4m to 6m

Bursaria spinosa is expected to grow 30cm to 50cm per year (approx.).

Growth Rate of Bursaria spinosa

Bursaria spinosa is expected to grow 30cm to 50cm per year (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Bursaria spinosa

Is Bursaria spinosa frost tolerant?

Bursaria spinosa is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Bursaria spinosa Flower?

Bursaria spinosa produces masses of small, star-shaped white flowers from summer through early autumn. These fragrant blooms cluster along the branch tips, creating a delicate yet generous seasonal display that brightens the warm months.

Does Bursaria spinosa flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Summer

Flower Type:

Fragrant

Flower Colour:

White

Is Bursaria spinosa an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Bursaria spinosa is Native to Widespread across Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, where it grows in open forests, woodlands, and grasslands.

What is the Wildlife Value of Bursaria spinosa ?

Its nectar-rich flowers attract native bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other pollinators, while the dense, prickly branching provides excellent nesting habitat for small birds. It is especially valued as a host plant for several native butterfly species, contributing strongly to biodiversity.

How much Sunlight does Bursaria spinosa need?

Bursaria spinosa will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Bursaria spinosa performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It can manage poorer soils but may struggle in heavy clay or waterlogged sites unless improved with organic matter to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then reduce watering as the tree matures and develops its characteristic high drought resilience.

Is Bursaria spinosa Drought Tolerant?

Is Bursaria spinosa Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it benefits from regular watering, but once established Bursaria spinosa develops excellent drought tolerance. It thrives in dry, low-maintenance gardens and maintains its dense, bushy form with minimal supplementary watering.

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How To Plant Your Bursaria spinosa

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Bursaria spinosa

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Bursaria spinosa is expected to grow 30cm to 50cm per year (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Bursaria spinosa

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Bursaria spinosa in Different Soil

Bursaria spinosa performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What attracts butterflies to Bursaria spinosa? The sweetly fragrant flowers of the Sweet Bursaria are known to attract a variety of butterflies.
Is it suitable for coastal gardens? Yes, the Australian Blackthorn is tolerant of coastal conditions, making it ideal for seaside gardens.
Can it thrive in shaded areas? While it prefers full sun, it can also grow in partial shade.