Scientific Name: Pimelea serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia
Common Name: thyme riceflower
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Form Description: Dwarf to small shrub, branchlets may be slightly spiny.
Height (m): 0.2 – 1.5
Flowers: Flowers in terminal, compact heads, yellow, white or rarely yellow-green, without hairs.
Fruit: Dry, nut-like
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Found on the Bass Strait Islands. Most common on calcareous soils in woodland and scrubland.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Moist
Soil Tolerance
Clay, Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
General Notes
Flowers for most of the year. Valuable for revegetation in its natural range although it is not particularly ornamental. Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Very difficult to grow from seed. Seed releases very quickly once ripe. Slightly immature fruit can be harvested and allowed to mature in a warm position. Rub on wire screens to remove outer coverings.
Seed Treatment Method
Smoke Smoke treatment improves germination in some species. Smokey products, e.g. smokey vermiculite, can be purchased and applied to the sown seed, or sown seeds can be treated directly with smoke from a source such as a drum with a fire and hose.
Seed Treatment Notes
Smoke treatment has improved results slightly for some species. Some success has also been reported with burning of small twigs and leaf litter on top of seed; results erratic. May respond to combination of heat and smoke.
Cutting & Division Information
Can be grown from cuttings but difficult. Care should be taken not to strip back the young bark.