Common name
Bursaria; Sweet Native Blackthorn, Native Blackthorn; Hairy Christmas Bush
Position
Full sun
Flower shape and colour
Star shaped, white
Form
Medium Shrub (Usually between 1.2m & 3.6m)
Suitability for landscaping
As a hardy ornamental feature tree, informal hedge, screen or barrier in low traffic areas due to its prickly foliage. Leaves and flowers a little smaller than B.spinosa subsp. Spinosa. Also hairs are a little more persistent throughout all growth stages. (Botanic Gardens of South Australia | Bursaria spinosa ssp. spinosa | Christmas bush)
Propagation
From seed or cuttings (Wrigley, Fagg p. 288; Australian Native Plants Society | Bursaria spinosa)
Cultivation
Tube stock for both Bursaria spinosa ssp. lasiophylla and B.spinosa ssp. spinosa are available at Native nurseries, notably at the SA State flora nursery (SA State flora catalogue, p. 11) Responds to pruning.
References | acknowledgements
- Atlas of living Australia 2025, Bursaria spinosa | Sweet Native Blackthorn. Provides information about the spread of the species of Bursaria spinosa shrub across South Australia and other parts of Australia.
- Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) 2025, Bursaria spinosa. Provides detailed information about Bursaria spinosa including how it is propagated through seeds or cuttings.
- Botanic Gardens of South Australia 2025, Bursaria spinosa ssp. spinosa | Christmas bush. Provides information about the plant features and uses of the Native shrub: Bursaria spinosa ssp. spinosa.
- Brad (b_martin_) 2023, Bursaria spinosa | Australian Blackthorn. Provides information about the featured image used in theMissingLibrary.com.au page.
- Seeds of South Australia 2025, Bursaria spinosa ssp. lasiophylla (Pittosporaceae) | Hairy Christmas Bush. Provides detailed information about the distribution of Bursaria spinosa ssp. lasiophylla in regional South Australia as well as images of the plant in situ and its seed.
- Yarra Ranges Council 2025, Bursaria spinosa ssp. spinosa | Sweet Bursaria, Kurwan, Tupy. Provides information about the plant characteristics including the suitability of the Bursaria spinosa ssp. spinosa as a streetscape shrub.