Conospermum huegelii

Yesterday I bought a 15 gallon Conospermum huegelii from a Southern California nursery, specializing in Australian plants. The nursery owner tried to discourage me. She had propagated plants from seed, six years ago, and this, was the only one that lived. I thought its grassy leaves and blue flowers would be perfect in my garden, so, with unusual hubris, I assured her that this plant would have a good home and not die in my care. She reluctantly sold it to me. Then I went home and googled. Yikes. I had no idea how rare it was. I found information about other Conospermum. There was none about this one. After my 17th google I found a picture of Conospermum huegelii taken at Mount Solus in the Southwest area of Western Australia.

Does anyone know anything about Conospermum huegelii? Will it live on mounded soil in Santa Monica's notorious clay? Must it, like other Australian plants, be protected from sprinklers and phosphorus? Does it, like some Conospermum, need acid soil? I know. I should have thought about this before I promised that it would be happy in my garden.

Ellen Hoffs

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