Pimelea humilis

(Common Rice-flower)

Description: Landing pads for insects. That's what I think of at this time of year when I see Rice-flowers in bloom. Each gorgeous white flowerhead is made up of lots of flowers all clustered together in a ball. When they open they form a fairly flat surface that makes it easy for insects to collect the pollen and then transport it to other flowers so that they can set seed.

Each small Rice-flower shrub is covered in flowerheads, making it look like a bunch of flowers, about 10-50cm x 30 - 100cm. Sometimes they send out suckers, spreading their pretty flowers a bit further in the garden.

These plants will survive without much more than rainfall, but if you do give them a bit of extra water they'll flower for longer and generally look more healthy.

Ask your local nursery or council about which Rice-flower is indigenous to your area. There's at least one Pimelea growing in every state so there's a good chance you'll have a local species.

Photograph by Helen Moss: Plants of Melbourne's Outer East CD-Rom

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