Correa alba - White Correa
The Correas are a small, but diverse group of plants. From those of wonderfully glossy dark green leaves and pale green tubular flowers, through shades of pink, to the White Correa of silver-green, hirsute leaves and white star-like flowers. Some enjoy full sun, while others prefer the shadier spots in your garden. There’s a Correa for everyone!
The Correa genus was covered in this column last year, but Correa alba deserves closer observation.
The plant’s name is derived from...Correa...after the Portuguese botanist José Francisco Correa de Serra, and alba... from the Latin albus white, referring of course to the flower colour.
The White Correa is a versatile shrub suited to a number of garden styles. It is equally at home in a native garden or as a backdrop to a border in a cottage garden. Why not try it in a native cottage garden? It can be used in formal gardens and is absolutely in its element in the coastal garden.
For use in the formal garden, plant them in a row bordering a path or driveway and trim to maintain a neat hedge, or trim individual plants into ‘balls’ as an alternative to more traditional topiary species.
Its beautiful, grey-green leaves are small (up to 4cm) oval to almost round, with an underside of rusty appearance and a dense covering of soft matted hairs. It produces a mass of small starry, white blooms in winter, with some flowering occurring throughout the year.
The blooms of C. alba differ from others of the genus, which are typically bell-shaped with flowers of red, green or yellow, or a combination of these. This Correa’s white (rarely soft pink) petals spread widely to form a star-like appearance. A lovely addition to a courtyard used for evening meals & entertaining, its white flowers becoming luminous in the moonlight.
Of the Rutaceae family, relatives include boronias, eriostemon and citrus, this evergreen shrub grows to a height of 1.5 metres with a spread of about 1metre. A prostrate form has been sited in the hills of Trevallyn, which makes for an appealing groundcover scrambling over a rockery.
Indigenous to the sea coasts of south eastern states of Australia, this bird attracting beauty prefers well drained soil and a full sun position, but will still flower well with some shade. Also suitable for raised planter beds, pots and other containers.
C. alba is tolerant of drought, frost and coastal conditions and is a good choice when considering fire retardant qualities.
A useful plant for binding soil on a bank or as a low screen providing shelter from salt-laden strong winds by the seaside. Early settlers apparently used the leaves as a tea substitute.
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a tight, bushy habit. If you wish to fertilise, remember a low phosphorus, slow release fertiliser is suitable for natives...available at most nurseries and garden centers in granular form.
Propagation is relatively easy from softwood cuttings - those from the current season’s growth.
You’ll find the very hardy and versatile White Correa at your local native nursery.
