Tag: Melaleuca

Plant of the Month – Melaleuca 4

Hasn’t March flown by! We are up to the fourth installment in the plant of the month series. Last week we looked at the Grey Honey Myrtle, Melaleuca incana, the last of the Melaleuca series this week will be the Melaleuca viridiflora.

Genus: Melaleuca
Species: viridiflora
Common Name:
Flower Colour: Red
Foliage Colour: Green
Growth Habit: Small tree to 5m
Flowering: Autumn

The viridiflora is the Melaleuca variety that most looks like, and is confused with, Bottle Brushes. The distinctive red flower is almost identical to a Bottle Brush flower however the main give away that this is a melaleuca is the bark, which is much whiter than Bottle Brush trees.  Melaleuca viridiflora is a tree variety which grows to about 5m high and around about 2m wide. It is a great bird attracter and prefers full sun but can handle part shade. An absolutely fantastic Australian Native Plant choice.

Plant of the Month – Melaleuca 3

Last week I reviewed the Silver leaved paperbark, Melaleuca argentea, this week I’ll be reviewing the Grey Honey Myrtle, Melaleuca incana

Melaleuca incanaGenus: Melaleuca
Species: incana
Common Name: Grey Honey Myrtle
Flower Colour: Yellow and/or white
Foliage Colour: Grey
Growth Habit: Shrub to 2m
Flowering: Spring

A third variety of Melaleuca and a third pretty much completely different variety. The incana is another shrub variety of Melaleuca but it has the most wonderful little yellow flowers, though white flowered version seem to be around as well. The Melaleuca incana is native to Western Australia but can handle most climates and can handle sandy, gravel or clay soils. It definitely prefers more sun to shade, but can handle part shade. Also looks fantastic planted with other Melaleuca varieties. Try mixing and matching a few to get the desired look for your garden.

Plant of the Month – Melaleuca 2

Last week I reviewed the Melaleuca fulgens, this week I will be discussing another Melaleuca variety, the argentea or Silver leaved paperbark.

Melaleuca argenteaGenus: Melaleuca
Species: argentea
Common Name: Silver leaved paperbark
Flower Colour: White
Foliage Colour: Silver
Growth Habit: Small Tree
Flowering: Spring & Winter

The Melaleuca argentea is one of the tree-like varieties in the Melaleuca family. What makes this variety special to me is contrast it provides when around other melaleuca varieties, given its white flowers(with a tinge of yellow and cream) and silver foliage. This variety will grow from about 5m to around 7m in height and can function as a fantastic feature tree in any garden. For best results plant in full sun, you will not regret planting this Australian Native Plant!

Thanks to Lullfitz nursery for much of this information!

Plant of the Month – Melaleuca 1

For the month of March I will be taking a look at 4 different varieties of the Australian Native Plant called the Melaleuca. The Melaleuca species of Australian Native Plant is quite varied with some varieties growing like shrubs and others more like small trees. Many Melaleuca varieties are regularly confused with varieties of Bottle Brush due to the similarity in flowers but they are indeed a very different species. However, the similarities do mean that they work very well in combination with varieties of Bottle Brush.

Here is the first variety for March

Melaleuca fulgensGenus: Melaleuca
Species: fulgens
Common Name: Apricot Delight
Flower Colour: Orange
Foliage Colour: Green
Growth Habit: Shrub to 2m
Flowering: Spring

The Melaleuca fulgens is more a shrub like Melaleuca, though it can grow rather tall and bushy. It can handle most shade situations, from full sun to full shade, and can also survive quite well in clay soils. In spring it has the most delightful little Bottle Brush like apricot flowers. One thing I really like about this variety of Australian Native Plant is that it is easily shaped. If planted side by side with either other fulgens or mixed with other shrub like varieties it can become a fantastic hedge that you can trim to suit your desire. A great choice of plant!

Thanks to Lullfitz nursery for much of this information!