Australian Endangered Plants: Kunzea Newbuyi

The Kunzea Newbuyi is a rare and endangered plant found in the South Western part of Western Australia.  The plant is recognisable from the beautiful purple and pink flowers that bloom in October and November, a vibrant feature of the otherwise fairly inconspicuous shrub.  Kunzea Newbuyi was discovered in the 1960s and since then has only been found in 5 parts of the world.  The Western Australian government has classified the plant as “Priority One”, which means that it is found in only a few locations which are potentially at risk.  Due to its delicate situation, conservation of the striking flower has been a high priority for projects such as Gondwana Link which aims to reconnect parts of Western Australia and restore delicate habitats through preservation.  In 2016, a section of the Gondwana Link known as Monjebup Reserve saw an amazing return of Kunzea Newbuyi with large quantities of the plant found scattered throughout the park.  The discovery pinpointed the benefits of conservationism for endangered plants and fostered new growth as the seedlings were collected to aid further regeneration.