Australia Day launch for bright new Aussie Colour

Queensland-based Australian native plants innovator Aussie Colours Pty Ltd has launched its latest brightly coloured green and gold flowering shrub in time for anyone looking to commemorate the Australia Day holiday with a gift for their garden.

‘Gold Dust’ (Ozothamnus diotophyllus) was developed at The University of Queensland (UQ), in partnership with the Centre for Native Floriculture. It is the latest native plant released as part of the “Aussie Cottage Collection” of ornamental plants Aussie Colours has developed since the company was established in 2007 by UQ’s main research commercialisation company, UniQuest.

Gold Dust is an abundantly flowering Australian shrub with striking yellow flowers and green-grey foliage. With the ability to flower all year round, Gold Dust is suited to both garden beds and patio pots in all states of Australia.

Aussie Colours General Manager, Jose Florenciano, said the launch was timed to remind gardeners not only of the coming celebration of our national day, but also that Australian native plants can be used to bring colour to Australian gardens in all seasons.

“Like most Australians, Gold Dust can handle hot and dry conditions, as well as humidity, making it an ideal low watering sustainable plant,” Mr Florenciano said.

“Planting Gold Dust now will add a splash of patriotic colour to your garden for Australia Day and be well-established before the drier months ahead.”

Gold Dust will be available nationwide at a range of retail outlets leading up to Australia Day, including many independent stores stocking native plants and also Masters in NSW and Bunnings and Big W in Queensland.

Aussie Colours has the exclusive worldwide licence for the novel varieties that have been developed by the Centre, as well as future varieties such as a new range of native Hibiscus to be launched later this year.

Aussie Colours plants are brightly coloured, drought-resistant and flower all year round, unlike many traditional colourful plants that flower for only six to eight weeks. There are currently 10 products in its “Aussie Cottage Collection”, which is designed to give gardeners and landscapers an Australian alternative to the traditional annuals developed in and for Europe.

Aussie Colours has launched one product in the USA and has many more under trial for possible release over the next few years.