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Mulla Mulla Wikimedia Commons
Amaranthaceae

Mulla Mulla

Ptilotus exaltatus

Outback resilience.

Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Ptilotus
Native to
Australia, Western Australia, South Australia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
annual
Height
1-3 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
sandy, well-drained, low fertility
Water
low
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
annual

Did you know

  • Mulla mulla produces fluffy, feather-like flower spikes up to 12 inches long in shades of pink and mauve.
  • After rain in the Australian interior, vast areas of arid land become carpeted with blooming ptilotus.
  • The genus name comes from the Greek 'ptilotos,' meaning feathered or winged, referring to the fuzzy flowers.
  • Aboriginal Australians used various Ptilotus species medicinally for skin conditions and as food sources.
  • The cut flowers dry beautifully and are increasingly used in the global dried flower industry.

Color meanings

0

resilience

1

outback spirit

2

delicacy

Uses

  • ornamental
  • dried flower
  • wildflower garden