Melaleuca thymifolia (Thyme Honey Myrtle) is a shrub which grows to a height of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 9 and is quite resilient to frost. Melaleuca thymifolia will flower in February.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by insects
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Family: | Myrtaceae |
Habit: | Shrub |
Height: | 1 metre |
Range: | Australia - New South Wales, Queensland |
Melaleuca thymifolia Growing Guide
Ideal Soil and Planting Location
Melaleuca thymifolia will grow in light (sandy), medium (loamy), hard (clay) soil. It is important for the soil to be well drained. Melaleuca thymifolia prefers moist soils
Damp places. Melaleuca thymifolia should not be planted in shady areas.
Thyme Honey Myrtle Cultivation Details
Requires a fertile, well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in full sun. Prefers a soil that does not contain much nitrogen. Plants in Australian gardens succeed in a sunny position in most soils so long as they are moist.
Plants tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°C in Australian gardens. One report says that it can tolerate occasional lows to about -5°C. Seed takes about 12 months to develop on the plant, the woody seed capsules persist for 3 or more years.
Any pruning is best done after the plants have flowered with the intention of maintaining a compact habit. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Melaleuca thymifolia Medicinal Uses*
* See disclaimer
An essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves and twigs is antiseptic.
How to Propagate Melaleuca thymifolia
Seed - surface sow in spring or autumn onto a pot of permanently moist soil in a warm greenhouse. Immerse in 5 cm of water and do not water from overhead. Grow on until the seedlings are 0.5 cm tall then remove from the water and pot up a week later.
Seedlings are liable to damp off when grown this way, sowing the seed thinly, good ventilation and hygiene are essential for success. Grow the plants on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe lateral shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame.
Other Uses for Thyme Leaf Honey Myrtle
An essential oil obtained from the leaves is comparable to the better Eucalyptus oils.
References
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Author: Huxley. A.
