Bursaria spinosa Cav.

Variable shrubs or small trees to 10 m high; bark dark grey, platelets. Juvenile and intermediate stages: scruffy shrubs; spinescent shoots numerous, 8–10 mm long; leaves clustered, stem-clasping, narrowly obovate, 8–12 mm long, 3 mm wide; margins dentate; petioles 1–1.5 mm long. Adult stages eventually becoming trees, spinescent short shoots rare; leaves alternate, sessile, narrowly obovate, 23–43 mm long, 5–
 wide; margins thick, entire; apices rounded or slightly emarginate with mucro; glabrescent. Inflorescences: adult stages andromonoecious; leafy, pyramidal panicles of pedicellate (4–6 mm long), whitish, regular bisexual and staminate flowers. Bracts and sepals to 1.5 mm long fused only at the base and then spreading, often shed before anthesis. Petals  4–6 mm long, spreading from the base. Staminate flowers in lower branches with reduced pistils. Fruit: numerous capsules, wider than long, 5–7 mm long, 7–9 mm diam., flattened, base slightly stalked, cordate, persisting on the branches well after seed shed. Seeds 2–6, flat, 5 mm long, 3 mm wide, with distinct wings.Peak flowering is usually early to mid-summer although occasional flowers can appear throughout the year.

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in coastal sands and on dry hillsides. It will grow in most soils. It is best in an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Melbourne Botanical gardens. Tasmania Herbarium. In Wittunga Botanical Gardens Adelaide. On Mt Roland. Arboretum Tasmania.

It can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Cuttings are slow to grow.