Boronia megastigma aka Sweet Boronia

Boronia megastigma is a shrub that stays green all year. It comes from the southwest of Western Australia. It belongs to Rutaceae, the rue family. Gardeners call it brown boronia or scented boronia. The RHS also calls it world's sweetest flower. Its native range lies within the southwest of Australia. Kew puts it in a subtropical climate zone. In the wild, it grows in peaty sand and swamps. These sites get wet in winter.

The shrub can reach about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. The account gives no separate size range for garden plants. It has woody growth and keeps its leaves all year. Its flowers stand out for their strong scent. The supplied species accounts do not describe leaf shape or bark. They give no details of how fruit or seeds look. Nor do they state flower colour or bloom dates.

The Tropical Plants Database says to grow it in full sun. It favours sandy soil with no lime and good drainage. That source also calls it a plant of the arid subtropics. Its wet winter home does not set a garden watering schedule. The stated growing needs still include soil that drains well. The evidence gives no frost limit or hardiness zone. Growers can raise plants from seed. They can also use cuttings of half-ripe wood.

People grow scented boronia in gardens for its looks. Breeders have also developed cultivars for gardens. The species also supplies flowers for making essential oil. Perfumers use this oil for its flower scent. The database compares the scent with violet and cassie. The shrub thus brings both scent and flowers to gardens. The evidence gives no mature width or growth rate. It does not show how hard the plant is to care for.

Flower oil also serves as a flavour in food. It can give prepared foods a taste like blackcurrant. Food makers also use it to boost other fruit flavours. Listed foods include drinks, ice cream, sweets, and baked goods. This use does not show that whole flowers are edible. The database lists no known hazards and no medicinal uses. That does not prove safety for people or pets. The supplied sources name no pests or diseases.