About Lasiopetalum ferrugineum Sm.
Lasiopetalum ferrugineum Sm., commonly known as rusty velvet-bush, is a shrub that typically grows to 1 m (3.3 ft) high and 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) wide. Its new growth is covered in red-brown hairs. The leaves are narrowly oblong to lance-shaped, 2–12 cm (0.79–4.72 in) long and 0.5–4 cm (0.20–1.57 in) wide, borne on a petiole 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) long. The upper leaf surface is more or less glabrous, while the lower surface is covered in woolly, white to rust-coloured hairs, with prominent veins visible on both leaf surfaces. Flowers are arranged in crowded cymes holding five to ten more or less sessile flowers. The sepals are whitish, 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long, covered in star-shaped hairs, with three 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long bracteoles at their base. Petals and anthers are both reddish-brown; petals are less than 1 mm (0.039 in) long, and anthers are about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. Flowering takes place from September to November, and the fruit is a capsule around 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter. This species grows in sclerophyll forest and heathland, with a distribution ranging from south-east Queensland through eastern New South Wales to far-eastern Victoria. It often grows as a spreading shrub in more exposed areas, and grows taller in sheltered areas and gullies. It prefers sandy soils. In horticulture, its flushes of rust-coloured new growth give it some ornamental appeal. It grows fairly readily in part-shade in garden settings, and can be propagated by seed or cuttings.
