Baeckea
imbricata (?): There are more than 70 species of Baeckea endemic
to Australia with over 50 species native to the south west of Western
Australia. Baeckeas are members of the Myrtaceae family in company with
Eucalypts and Leptospermums (Tea Trees). The genus name honours Dr. Abrahan
Baeck, a Swedish naturalist and physician.
We think that the specimen illustrated is Baeckea imbricata but are
open to suggestions. The original cuttings came from a plant growing on the
South Coast of New South Wales. It is a small shrub reaching a height of one
metre, with small aromatic leaves. In spring and early summer the plant
becomes covered with small white flowers similar in appearance to miniature
Tea Tree flowers.
Baeckea imbricata (?) has proved to be a hardy and free flowering
shrub. Because of the ease of cutting propagation, we have many specimens
scattered through the gardens at Yallaroo.
The species name means overlapping and refers to the foliage.
Stop Press: Just to confuse matters, some Baeckeas have had a name
change and are now known as Babingtonias.