Guide’s plant of the month – Trachymene coerulea

Visitors to Kings Park over the next few months are likely to be attracted to the Blue Lace Flower (Trachymene coerulea) which is now enhancing many garden beds.

This Western Australian native first caught the eye of Europeans even before the Swan River Colony was established. Seeds were collected and taken to Scotland where the plant was grown and named in 1828.

Blue Lace Flower is an annual with erect pin-cushion-shaped flower heads up to 5 centimetres across, that range from soft blue to mauve, generally flowering from October to January. The plant grows up to one metre tall, making it a striking addition to a garden bed.

Because it tolerates poor soil and coastal conditions, plus bearing attractive flowers, it is now widely grown.

First Nations people used its mashed bulbs and leaves as a body rub to relieve aches and pains. Vapours from the crushed leaves were inhaled for headaches.

It is also known as the Rottnest Island Daisy as it thrives on this small island off the coast from Fremantle. The daisy has been adopted as the symbol of remembrance of the Aboriginal deaths in custody on Rottnest Island. Its Aboriginal name is dek-koordiny-mart.

Check with our Guides in the Visitor Information Centre or join a free guided walk to help you find this beautiful plant.