370B-2-Stylidium-armeria-fl-Healesville-Sanctuary.jpg

Stylidium armeria ssp. armeria

Common Trigger-plant

Tufted perennial herb, often spreading from underground roots.

Additional information

  • SynonymStylidium graminifolium var. graminifolium; Stylidium sp. 2
  • FamilyStylidiaceae
  • StoreyLower storey
  • Size0.2-1.1 m x 20-30 cm
  • Plant groupingHerbs & Groundcovers <1m
  • LeavesErect to spreading, hairless, pale to dark green narrow lance-shaped leaves 13-40 cm x 3-14 mm, margins rarely serrated.
  • Flower colourDeep pink to magenta, rarely pale pink
  • Flowering timeAugust to February
  • FlowersStrong flowering stem to 110 cm high, scarcely glandular hairy. Terminal spike of 10-100 flowers. 8 prominent white throat appendages with purple or yellow tips.
  • Bird attractingInsects
  • Butterfly attractingNo
  • Frog habitatNo
  • Growing conditionsMoist to well drained soils, widespread in many communities. Frost tolerant. Full sun, semi shade.
  • Garden useBeautiful tufting plant for small gardens, rockeries, cottage gardens and containers. Plant in drifts in the garden or a bush area. S. montanum from subalpine areas outside the Shire have the broadest leaves and deep magenta flowers.
  • Commercially availableGenerally
  • Conservation statusWidespread within the Shire
  • Related speciesSimilar to Stylidium graminifolium which has narrow greyish serrrated leaves. Scape has glandular hairs increasing up the stem, only 6 of the 8 appendages in throat area prominent. Fewer flowers.
Photographer/s: 1, 3 Marilyn Bull ©; 2 Healesville Sanctuary ©

Plant Communities

  • 04 Alpine Ash Montane Wet Forest (EVC 39)
  • 29 Green Scentbark Herb-rich Foothill Forest (EVC 23)
  • 30 Swamp Gum Swampy Riparian Woodland (EVC 83)
  • 38 Yellow Box Valley Grassy Forest – Middle Yarra (EVC 47)
  • 25 Long-leaf Box Grassy Dry Forest - Southern Dandenongs (EVC 22)
  • 17 Messmate Herb-rich Foothill Forest (EVC 23)
  • 26 Red Stringybark Grassy Dry Forest - Middle Yarra (EVC 22)
  • 08 Mountain Grey Gum Damp Forest – Dandenongs (EVC 29)
  • 46 Silvertop Ash Heathy Dry Forest (EVC 20)
  • 02 Shining Gum Montane Wet Forest (EVC 39)
  • 27 Red Stringybark Grassy Dry Forest - Dandenongs (EVC 22)
  • 13 Manna Gum Riparian Forest - Upper Yarra (EVC 18)
  • 15 Scented Paperbark Riparian Thicket - Middle & Upper Yarra (EVC 59)
  • 22 Silver-leaf Stringybark Heathy Woodland (EVC 48)
  • 40 Snow Gum Grassy Woodland (EVC 175/37)
  • 19 Long-leaf Box Herb-rich Foothill Forest (EVC 23)
  • 01 Alpine Ash Montane Damp Forest (EVC 38)
  • 18 Messmate Shrubby Foothill Forest - Dandenongs (EVC 45)
  • 20 Messmate Lowland Forest (EVC 16)
  • 21 Broad-leaf Peppermint Heathy Dry Forest (EVC 20)
  • 03 Narrow-leaf Peppermint Montane damp Forest (EVC 38)
  • 07 Mountain Grey Gum Damp Forest - Central Highlands (EVC 29)
  • 16 Messmate Shrubby Foothill Forest Central Highlands/UpperYarra (EVC 45)
  • 32 Silvertop Ash Shrubby Foothill Forest (EVC 45)
  • 37 Yarra Gum Grassy Woodland (EVC 175)
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