Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Ochradenus baccatus
Sweet Mignonette
The Ochradenus baccatus, commonly known as the Sweet Mignonette or Taily Weed, is an erect, broom-like shrub of the wadis and rocky slopes of Arabia, Sinai and the eastern Sahara. It carries a dense mass of slender green rush-like stems, small yellow flower spikes and translucent white to cream juicy berries.
It fruits abundantly and is one of the most heavily used bird plants in the Arabian desert, holding cover and food through the driest part of the year. It is used for native restoration, wadi planting and wildlife-focused schemes.
Specifications
- Height1 to 2 metres
- Width1 to 2 metres
- Native toThe Arabian Peninsula, Sinai, the Levant and the eastern Sahara
- FoliageEffectively leafless in the dry season; slender green photosynthetic stems carry small narrow leaves after rain
- Growth rateModerate
Conditions
- SoilPrefers gravelly, rocky and sandy soils with free drainage; tolerates poor and alkaline ground
- LightFull sun
- WaterVery low; strongly drought-tolerant, drawing on wadi subsurface moisture in its native range
- ClimateThrives in hot arid and semi-arid regions across Arabia and north east Africa
Additional Features
- FormErect green broom of slender stems building into a rounded mass, reading as fine texture
- FlowersSmall yellow flower spikes carried at the stem tips over a long season
- FruitTranslucent white to cream juicy berries produced in quantity, a key desert food source
- UsesNative restoration, wadi and rocky slope planting, wildlife habitat schemes, low-water shrub mass
- SpacingPlant 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a continuous native stand
- Low MaintenanceNeeds no routine care once established; cut back only to restrict spread
- Pest ResistanceFree of significant pest and disease problems
- Drought ToleranceVery high, fruiting through the hottest and driest part of the Arabian year
- Wildlife AttractionAmong the most important bird and small mammal food plants in the Arabian desert flora
The Sweet Mignonette is the shrub to specify when the brief asks for a planting scheme that will actually feed the local wildlife.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 12 September 2026