Story: Waxflowers
Episode: 1
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 15 August 2020

Plant hybrids have become increasingly popular over the last few years, with the Geraldton waxflower being a great example.

• Helix is an Australian-owned company that specialises in breeding, marketing, and licensing of new varieties of waxflower and boronia.
• Helix Australia is at the forefront of genetics. They work very closely with Kings Park Botanical Gardens, using very advanced breeding techniques to come up with new colours and varieties.
• Their work has seen an increase in the number of hybrids, with much larger bloom size and even multi-coloured flowers. Future varieties of the Geraldton waxflower have the potential to be twice the size of existing varieties.
• Improved shrub shape and form are making the waxflower more ideal for home gardens and cut flowers.
• The next wave of hybrids Helix is working on will be wax flower plants that can work in a rockery or hedging environment and garden beds in narrow walkways.
• The Geraldton waxflower has spectacular flower production right through the winter and into spring, benefiting native wildlife such as birds who love the waxflower for nesting and nectar purposes.
• The waxflower can endure a hard prune or hedging at the end of the season. Cutting it back will allow it to put on new growth the following year.
• Helix managing director Adrian Parson’s favourites are Sarah’s Delight, which is a large pink flower, Dee’s Delight, which is slightly bigger and flowers just a little bit later, and a beautiful white variety called Moonlight Delight.

For more information, head to
www.helixaustralia.com.au