Hakea nodosa

(Yellow Hakea)

Family: Proteaceae

Yellow Hakea can be a rather stiff and not particularly ornamental shrub. However, it does have virtues that make it a worthy garden plant, if only to tuck it away as a useful background plant.

Hakea nodosa grows to about 3 metres tall and can be encouraged to have a dense habit with pruning. In fact, it makes a great hedge.

Leaves are needle-like and quite sharp but it is this thorny foliage that makes this shrub ideal habitat for small birds, especially if a dense habit can be encouraged with pruning.

From April to August it produces masses of yellow flowers up the stems of the plant that are a delight for nectar feeders. Some people find the fragrance pleasant, other people don't!

Another virtue is its adaptability to a wide range of soil types and conditions, and it's even tolerant of moderately heavy frosts.

There is a variant with more greyish green foliage and also a dwarf variety.

Hakea nodosa is fast growing (particularly growing rapidly after fire) and is easy to propagate from seed, although it is readily available at indigenous nurseries.

Natural habitat

Its natural habitat is quite widespread across Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, in open forest, heathland and in swampy situations in clay loams and sandy soils.

Information sources from:
Encyclopaedia of Australian plants suitable for cultivation, by W. Rodger Elliot and David. L. Jones, Lothian Publishing
Native Plants of Melbourne and adjoining areas, by David & Barbara Jones, Bloomings Books.
Photograph courtesy of Peter Watkins, from the Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP) http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/gall4b.html

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