No matter who visits my garden at the moment there is one congregating factor – they all fall in love with my Wedding Bush. They pass by the echium which I’ve loving stroked to flowering glory, the Californian poppy with blooms that illuminate the garden like lights on a runway and never comment on my finely manicured lavender hedge.
Yet my ricinocarpos, which gets no attention (nor needs it), draws all the affection and wonder in the same way a Vesuvian Flytrap seduces its countless prey. Aaarrgh!!
Still, I don’t blame them. Its wonderful perfume eminates throughout the garden extolling the virtues of spring. The birds and bees feast on the wedding bush’s flowers and its gentle sprays of foliage add a slight dynamism to the scene.

In truth what could be more wonderful? A plant that little to no effort yet rewards you greatly season after season.

What’s more, this one was given to us by some friends (thanks Noel and Steph), so we admire it as a plant and also as a gift.

Ok. Enough of the love-fest. You want some facts, don’t you? The ricinocarpos pinifolius is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family where it shares the limelight with 14 other genus’. It is said to grow no more than 1.5m (5ft) yet our one towers over my 6′ 2″ frame. It flowers for approximately 6-8weeks during spring when it literally becomes covered with tiny white flowers.

It is also reported to only grow about 1m wide yet ours has doubled that and has actually swallowed a gardenia, which we plan to transplant elsewhere soon.

The wedding bush is a native to the east-side of Australia but is found in most states. It grows well in poor soil and as mentioned takes very little maintain.