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Melaleuca lanceolata

Moonah

Myrtaceae Southern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Melaleuca lanceolata is an evergreen large shrub to small tree reaching 2-10 m (6.5-33 ft) tall and 3-6 m (10-20 ft) wide, with a dense, rounded to spreading crown. The bark is grey and fibrous, shedding in thin papery layers on older trunks. Leaves are alternate, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 5-20 mm (0.2-0.8 in) long and 1-2 mm wide, grey-green, and crowded along the branchlets. Cream to white flowers appear in cylindrical spikes 1-3 cm (0.4-1.2 in) long from late spring through summer, each spike carrying numerous stamens in a bottlebrush arrangement. Woody cup-shaped capsules 3-4 mm wide form in dense clusters along the older stems and persist for several years. The species tolerates saline, calcareous, and sandy soils and withstands coastal salt spray, drought, and frost to about -5 C (23 F). Growth slows on exposed coastal sites, where mature height stays near the lower end of the range. Wind exposure and waterlogged ground can thin the lower canopy.

Native Range

Native to southern Australia, occurring across coastal and semi-arid regions of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and southern Queensland. It grows on limestone, calcareous dunes, and saline flats near the coast and at inland sites.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a windbreak, screen, and shelterbelt in coastal and dryland gardens. Used for revegetation of saline and calcareous soils and as habitat for nectar-feeding birds and insects. Grown in large gardens, rural properties, and street verges in mild climates.

How to Identify

Identified by its grey fibrous bark and crowded, alternate linear leaves 5-20 mm (0.2-0.8 in) long on slender branchlets. Cream bottlebrush spikes 1-3 cm (0.4-1.2 in) long and clusters of woody capsules along older wood separate it from co-occurring Melaleuca spp. species. The narrow leaves and rounded shrubby habit distinguish it from the broader-leaved paperbarks.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6'7" - 32'10"

Width/Spread9'10" - 19'8"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Cream to white flowers open from November through February in cylindrical spikes near the branch tips. Flowering is heaviest in summer and draws bees and other insects. Individual spikes last two to three weeks before woody capsules begin to form.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to white

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam chalk clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on a wide range of soils including sand, loam, limestone, and saline ground. Established plants tolerate extended drought and need no supplementary water in temperate climates. Salt-laden coastal wind is tolerated, so it can be grown on exposed seaside positions. Growth is fastest in deep, freely draining soil and slows on shallow or waterlogged sites. Frost to about -5 C (23 F) causes little damage on mature plants, though young plants can be cut back by hard frost. No routine feeding is needed in open ground.

Pruning

Tolerates hard pruning and resprouts from old wood, so it can be trimmed into a hedge or windbreak. Trimming after flowering in late summer keeps a dense form. Removing the lowest branches creates a single-trunked small tree.