Sorry about the headline, it sounds utterly crazy to me too, but that's the best way I can 'translate' the scientific name of one of our most gorgeous, stunning, attractive and resilient coastal shrubs –Leucopogon parviflorus – which basically means 'White-bearded plant with tiny flowers'.

The name must have made sense to the colonial botanising blokes as they walked around and checked out the plants, popping them into their 1800s-style botany spreadsheets, using Latin (and Greek) to create a sense of authority, history and continuity in their naming. And it still has some resonance with contemporary botanists, who recognise the Leucopogons by the whitish hairs (or beards?) inside the flowers.

But to bush walkers and beach wanderers the scientific name can be a bit confusing. Coastal Beard-heath is the common name, and just about manageable in the memory bank.

But let's put aside the terminology, here's the plant. It's absolutely gorgeous! 

You'll probably have seen it if you enjoy walking in natural areas along the coast, at Puckeys Estate along the coastal track, or at Bellambi Dunes, or at Port Kembla beach.... It often forms small dense shrubs or tiny trees, with tightly packed leaves and a low, twisting trunk.

When the long-throated flowers appear in their multitudes, they can completely cover the plant. Small birds, like Silvereyes, New Holland Honeyeaters and Weebills, swarm over the flowers and help pollinate them.   

When in full flower Coastal Beard-heath can appear almost white. The following picture by Dan Clarke illustrates the point. 

Despite its natural coastal preferences, Coastal Beard-heath can actually grow quite well in sunny spots on well-drained soils in the escarpment, with plenty of sunlight. Here's a picture from our garden in Mount Pleasant (disclosure: mix of clay soil and alluvium or a mix of silt, clay and sandstone washed down the slope from Mount Keira/Djeera). What do you say? Happy growing!!