About Virgilia oroboides (P.J.Bergius) T.M.Salter
Virgilia oroboides is a small to medium-sized tree species that reaches heights of 15 to 20 meters, and fills garden space easily. It has shiny green, fern-like pinnate foliage. During warmer months, it produces attractive, fragrant pea-shaped mauve or pink flowers that smell like bubblegum. After flowering, it develops dark, leathery seed pods. For cultivation, this tree grows in full sun to partial shade, and prefers well-drained soil. Under suitable conditions, it can grow up to 2 meters in its first growing season. It tolerates windy conditions, and grows dense foliage low to the ground. Because of these traits, it works well as a pioneer species for creating privacy and providing wind protection, though it has a comparatively short lifespan of around 15 years. It has been popular in cultivation in the UK since approximately the 18th century, and is now also commonly found in the USA and Australia.
