Lasiopetalum baueri, commonly known as Slender Velvet Bush, is a hardy, fine-textured Australian native shrub with narrow grey-green foliage and clusters of small white to pink flowers. It naturally occurs across parts of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, where it is found in habitats including mallee, heathland, coastal shrubland and coastal cliff environments.

Growing to around 0.3–1.6 metres high and 1–2.5 metres wide, it forms a dense, erect to spreading shrub suitable for dry native gardens, coastal gardens, habitat plantings, mixed borders and large containers. The foliage has the softly textured appearance typical of the velvet bushes, with narrow leaves that are often hairy beneath, and new growth may show attractive rusty-brown tones.

Flowers are produced mainly in spring, usually from September to November, and may be white, pink or pale greenish at the base depending on the plant and growing conditions. The small flowers are held in clusters and are followed by hairy capsules.

This is a useful tough shrub for gardens needing resilience. It tolerates drought, lime, moderate frost and salt spray, and grows well in loam or sandy soils with good drainage.

Flowers

• Small clustered flowers, usually white to pink, sometimes greenish toward the base.
• Main flowering period is spring, especially September to November.
• Flowers are softly textured, with the hairy calyx typical of the genus.
• Useful for subtle seasonal colour in naturalistic and habitat-focused plantings.

Foliage

• Narrow grey-green to green leaves.
• Leaves are often hairy beneath, sometimes with rusty or whitish tones.
• New growth may show attractive rusty-brown hairs.
• Dense, fine-textured habit gives year-round structure.

Cultivation

Soil:

Best in well-drained loam, sandy or coastal soils. It tolerates lime and alkaline conditions, making it useful for limestone-influenced soils and coastal gardens. Avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Sunlight:

Grow in full sun to part shade. Full sun will usually produce the densest habit and strongest flowering.

Watering:

Water regularly during establishment. Once established, Lasiopetalum baueri is drought tolerant and needs only occasional supplementary watering during long dry periods.

Frost tolerance:

Tolerates moderate frost, particularly once established in a well-drained position.

Drought tolerance:

Drought tolerant once established, making it suitable for dry native gardens and low-water landscapes.

Coastal tolerance:

Tolerates salt spray, making it useful for coastal gardens, second-line coastal plantings and exposed sites.

Pruning:

Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a denser plant. Regular light pruning is preferable to hard pruning into old wood.

Fertiliser:

Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly in spring if required. Avoid heavy feeding.

Uses

• Hardy shrub for dry native gardens.
• Suitable for large pots and containers with free-draining native potting mix.
• Useful for coastal gardens and salt-spray exposed sites.
• Good for mallee, heathland and naturalistic native plantings.
• Can be used as a low to medium informal hedge or windbreak.
• Attractive fine-textured shrub for mixed native borders.
• Useful in gardens with lime-influenced or alkaline soils.

Habitat Value

Lasiopetalum baueri contributes dense low to medium shrub structure to habitat gardens. Its fine branching and foliage provide shelter for small insects and other garden invertebrates, while the flowers add seasonal resources for small pollinators.

In coastal and dry native gardens, it is especially useful as a tough structural shrub that can help build layered habitat beneath taller shrubs and small trees.

Natural Range

Lasiopetalum baueri is native to south-eastern Australia, occurring in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. On the mainland it occurs in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, while in Tasmania it is recorded from open coastal shrubbery, often in low Allocasuarina forest on dolerite, along the north and north-east of the state.

In New South Wales it is much more restricted, with published summaries noting it around the Rankins Springs area in the south-west of the state.

Conservation / Rarity Status

Tasmania: Listed as Rare under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

New South Wales: Considered Rare, with its NSW occurrence primarily restricted to the Rankins Springs district.

Growing Tips

Plant in a sunny to lightly shaded, well-drained position. Water through the first summer to establish a strong root system, then reduce watering as the plant hardens to garden conditions.

For best shape, prune lightly after flowering. This helps maintain a denser shrub and prevents the plant becoming too open. In pots, use a free-draining native potting mix and avoid saucers that hold water.

Shipping Note

At Sylvaterre Native Nursery, every plant is treated with care and respect. Unlike many online nurseries that ship tubestock lying flat — often stacked on top of each other in standard Australia Post boxes — all Sylvaterre plants are shipped upright in custom-made cardboard plant boxes. This helps ensure they arrive healthy, happy, and ready to thrive in your garden or pots. See our shipping cartons in the image gallery.