About Hakea varia R.Br.
Hakea varia R.Br. is an erect or spreading shrub that typically grows 1 to 4 metres tall, 3 metres wide, and forms a lignotuber. Its branchlets and young leaves are covered in flattened, densely matted silky hairs, and become hairless and smooth quickly. A single plant can produce stiff leaves of varying shapes, including needle-shaped, simple, roughly elliptic, egg-shaped, and toothed forms. Leaves are 1–4 cm long and 2–5 mm wide, and all leaf variations end in a sharp point that measures 1–2 mm long. This species produces inflorescences of 16–36 sweetly scented, showy white-cream or yellow flowers arranged in axillary clusters. The inflorescence stalk is 2.5–4 mm long and covered in coarse, moderately long hairs. Overlapping bracts reach 4.5 mm in length, and the inner bracts are rust colored. Pedicels are 2–4 mm long, the pistil is 4–5 mm long, and the white perianth is 2.5–3.5 mm long. Flowering occurs from July to November. The resulting fruit are ovoid, small, and either coarse and warty or smooth. Fruit measure 1.5–2 cm long, are usually less than 1 cm wide, and end in an outward curving sharp horn that is 3.5 mm long. This species is widespread, growing from north of Perth, along the coast around to Augusta and Esperance. It prefers winter-wet locations, growing in sand, clay, loam and gravel soils. It is frost tolerant and can grow in both sunny and shady positions. It grows as a dense prickly shrub that provides good habitat for wildlife.
