Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla

Native range: SA, Vic, ACT, NSW Height: 3-5 m Width: 2-4 m Flowering: Summer Fruiting: Autumn Light: Full sun Growth rate: Moderate to slow Soils: Well drained clays  Drought tolerance: High Landscape position: Slopes Rainfall range: 500 – 900 mm Benefits: Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla) is a native, evergreen, multi-stemmed spiny shrub, with profuse sprays of white flowers in summer. It is rather slow growing and has a medium lifespan of around 50-60 years but will grow on poor soils and is extremely drought tolerant. It occupies a drier climatic zone than the other subspecies Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa, which is a tree or shrub to 10 m and grows in wetter regions toward the coast. Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla can resprout from the base after fire, however, frequent fire intervals are problematic as plants can fail to flower and set seed in between fire events. Bursaria provides excellent wildlife habitat. The flowers provide a rich source of nectar and are visited by a huge range on insects, including beetles, native bees, honeybees, flies, butterflies and moths, as well as wasps and spiders that predate insects. It a host plant for Copper Butterflies (Paralucia spp.), which have a mutualism with ants, that guard the caterpillars and pupae in return for sugar. Its spiny branches provides excellent protective cover and nesting sites for small native birds such as silvereyes, thornbills, wrens, finches and robbins, birds that in decline in the bush. These insects and birds bring valuable pollination and pest control services to the landscape, providing back-up native pollinators and reducing pesticide use. Sweet Bursaria is well suited to use as a low-level layer in shelterbelts. The thorns make it largely unpalatable to stock, though cattle sometimes browse the young shoots. Planted as an outer shrub row in a shelterbelt with other flowering shrubs, will provide year-round floral resources for pollinators. It is an excellent addition to revegetation projects and can be used for erosion control. In cultivation it is best used in informal native landscaping plantings and in rewilding projects. The timber is pale coloured, hard and fine grained and is suited to craft work. Drawbacks: Should not be planted near access areas or pedestrian areas dues to sharp spines. Sambar deer are reported to browse on Bursaria. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands and gardens Shelterbelts Revegetation Habitat for native biodiversity Specialty timber used in fine craft items Propagation: From seed. Weed risk: None Future climate risks:  Lack of flowering due to fire frequency, slow growth during extended dry years and heatwaves. Branch dieback, limb drop and death of trees in dry, exposed sites. References AVH (2022). The Australasian Virtual Herbarium, Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria, https://avh.chah.org.au Australian Deer Association – https://shorturl.at/brMW8 Ecological Burning in Box-Ironbark Forests; Phase 2 – Management Strategy. State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment 2007  – https://tinyurl.com/9szywzp8 PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney – https://shorturl.at/pyW23 Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group website – https://shorturl.at/qBHO5