Tabernaemontana australis (Australian Pinweel)

Tabernaemontana australis (Australian Pinweel) white flower with wavy edges and green buds.

Botanical name: Tabernaemontana australis

Common name: Australian Pinweel

Family: Apocynaceae

Origin: Australia

USDA Zone: 9-11

Plant form: Large bush

Mature height: 5-10 ft

Sun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor; semi-shade

Cold tolerance: Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.

Watering: Regular

Flower color: White and off-white

Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing

Fragrance: Fragrant; perfume plant

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

With its fragrant white flowers of a beautiful shape and very dark green waxy leaves, elongated and pointed, this plant is an amazing addition to a rare fragrant plant collection.

Slow growing, and low growing bush which makes it very valuable for landscape understory. It can be trimmed and maintained in small size 3-4 ft; however if you let it go it will grow into very attractive, dense and bushy specimen up to 5-6 ft tall. Great specimen, accent plant, and container plant.

This rare species of Tabernaemontana is often confused with T. divaricata (commonly known as Pinwheel Jasmine) and T. orientalis (Banana Bush). However this Australian relative of Pinwheen Jasmine has its own distinctive features, and flowers look more like T. africana, although smaller size (1" in diameter).

Learn more: How to establish Tabernaemontana and get more fragrant blooms