What’s Flowering at Paluma – Pastel Flower or Love Flower

On a recent trip up the Paluma Range Road local resident Jodie spotted the beautiful flowering herb below, growing along the roadside in deep shade towards the top of the range in the general area of Mountain Creek.

This is the Pastel Flower, also commonly called the Love Flower (scientific name Pseuderanthemum variabile).

It is described as a ‘small soft herb’ which grows in shady damp places, often near creeks or along gullies. It is said to be common and widespread in warmer rainforests from southeast New South Wales to Cape York in Queensland. In North Queensland it can be found growing at higher altitudes up to 900m. The plant grows only 15 to 30 cm in height and produces small heads of delicate flowers. The flower colour is variable, but most often they are white with a sprinkling of darker (purplish) spots on the lobes. It flowers over the spring and summer months. The opposite leaves are lance-shaped and often have a dark red blush on the under side.

Well spotted Jodie and thanks for sharing the Love (Flower)!

(References: Australian Rainforest Plants III, Nan & Hugh Nicholson 1991 and Native Plants Queensland Volume 1, Keith A.W. Williams 1979).