Melaleuca nesophila
showy honey-myrtle
Overview
Melaleuca nesophila is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Myrtaceae, growing 10–20 feet (3–6 m) tall and 8–15 feet (2.4–4.5 m) wide. The bark is grey, papery, and peels in thin layers on older stems. Leaves are grey-green, oval to oblong, 0.5–1 inch (12–25 mm) long, and arranged alternately along the stems. Flowers are mauve to pink with gold-tipped stamens and are packed into rounded heads 1–1.2 inches (25–30 mm) across at the branch tips; the colour fades to grey-white as the heads age. Flowering occurs mainly from late spring into summer. Small woody seed capsules form in clusters along the stems and persist for several years. The species comes from the south coast of Western Australia, where it grows on sandy and rocky coastal sites. It tolerates wind, salt spray, drought once established, and a range of soils, though it is damaged by hard frost. Without pruning it develops an open, irregular crown and can become bare at the base over time.
Native Range
Melaleuca nesophila is native to the south coast of Western Australia, where it grows on sandy flats, dunes, and rocky sites near the coast. It occurs naturally in a small area between Albany and Esperance.Suggested Uses
Planted as a screen, windbreak, and informal hedge in coastal and low-water gardens. Grown as a large shrub or pruned to a single trunk as a small street tree. Used in revegetation and native plantings on sandy soils.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 20'
Width/Spread8' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
mauve to pinkFoliage Description
grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Melaleuca nesophila in full sun in well-drained sandy or loamy soil. It tolerates drought once established, coastal wind, and salt spray, and it grows in soils from acidic to slightly alkaline. Water young plants through their first summers to settle the root system. The species is damaged by hard frost and suits frost-free to light-frost climates. Soil pH from 5.5 to 7.5 suits it. An annual trim after flowering keeps the shrub dense.Pruning
Trim Melaleuca nesophila after flowering to keep the crown dense and to slow the open, bare growth that develops with age. It tolerates hard pruning into old wood and reshoots readily. Remove lower branches to train it as a small single-trunked tree.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons