- New plant released by Kings Park and WA Parks Foundation
- First non-purple silky emu bush will help conserve genetic diversity of the Critically Endangered species
- Royalties will support conservation efforts for local flora
Kings Park has partnered with the WA Parks Foundation to release a new plant that will enable people to bring one of the State's rarest species into their own backyard.
The silky emu bush (Eremophila nivea) is listed as a Critically Endangered threatened species under WA's Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the short term.
Usually the species displays a bright purple flower, however the new cultivar, Eremophila nivea 'Pink Pearl' will bloom in pastel pink.
Pink-flowering variations of the species are extremely rare. By replicating this colouration through advanced propagation techniques, Kings Park's Plant Development program is conserving not only the at-risk species, but also its genetic diversity.
The plant is available to purchase in retail nurseries from today.
'Pink Pearl' marks the first Eremophila nivea in the retail market with a non-purple flower. The cultivar is the first Eremophila to be released by Kings Park.
Kings Park's Plant Development program is the only ornamental plant breeding program in the world with environmental outcomes as its primary focus.
All plants developed through the program are cultivars of Australian native species, combining hardy qualities with visual appeal through extended flowering periods or flowers of different colours.
Eremophila 'Pink Pearl' is an upright shrub with pink flowers appearing in autumn, spring and summer. Aside from its novel flowers, the plant also holds appeal due to its resilient and fauna-friendly features. The plant has a reduced reliance on water and fertiliser and attracts native insects and insect-eating birds.
Royalties will support the work of Kings Park and the WA Parks Foundation, with 60 cents from the sale of each plant contributing to the conservation of Western Australian flora.
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"This partnership between Kings Park and the WA Parks Foundation is a fantastic outcome for local flora, with both entities sharing a common goal of protecting and conserving Western Australia's natural heritage for the community.
"By adding 'Pink Pearl' to home gardens and urban landscapes, we can play our part in the ex-situ conservation of the Critically Endangered silky emu bush, ensuring it can live on for future generations.
"This new release is in good company, having been developed by the team that bred the famous blue kangaroo paw and more recently, the highly sought-after 'White Diamond' waxflower, released for the 60th anniversary of the Western Australian Botanic Garden."
