Desert Boronia - Boronia inornata
Although called the Desert Boronia, it is small shrub most common in mallee shrubland, which may have a low and irregular rainfall, but is certainly not a desert. Its preferred mallee habitat is a fine sand/clay loam over limestone, it also grows around salt-lakes and loams over limestone closer to the coast. Besides being one of the most floriferous boronias, it is also one of the most common, occurring in huge carpeting numbers on disturbed soil and after bushfires. You could say Boronia inornata is a colonising plant, helping to stabilise soils in low rainfall areas until larger plants can develop and take over. As this transition takes place, the boronias gradually die off, leaving only those in small openings amongst taller vegetation. However, these boronias now sheltered in a semi-shaded environment are to my mind more attractive by showing off a greener (round and warty) foliage and exhibiting a wider range of delicate pink flowers.
In exposed areas the Desert Boronia seldom exceed 300 mm (12"), but can grow closer to a metre (3') in more sheltered locations. It is not only a pretty plant, but a long flowering one too, often blooming profusely from May to December, but flowers can invariably be found at other times after rainfall. The blossom attracts a large variety of flying insects that no doubt take care of the pollination.
