Lagunaria patersonii

Sunset

Lagunaria patersonii

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Zones 13, 15-26, H1, H2

Full

Moderate

Primrose Tree, Cow itch tree
Malvaceae
Evergreen, Trees

Native to South Pacific and Australia. Rather fast growth to 20–50 ft. Young trees narrow and erect; old ones sometimes spreading to as wide as 40 ft., with flat-topped look. Densely foliaged in thick, oval, 2–4-in.-long leaves that are olive green above, gray beneath. Pink to rose, 2-in.-wide summer blossoms look similar to hibiscus flowers, fade almost to white with age.

‘Royal Purple’ has purple blossoms.

Brown seed capsules, popular with flower arrangers, hang on for a long time; they split into five sections, revealing bright brown seeds. Handle pods carefully, since they contain short, stiff fibers that can irritate skin and eyes.