Melaleuca salicina
willow bottlebrush
Eastern Australia (New South Wales and Queensland)
Overview
Melaleuca salicina is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 16-33 feet (5-10 m) tall and 10-16 feet (3-5 m) wide, with a dense, upright to spreading crown. The bark is white to cream, papery, and peels in thin layers on mature trunks. Leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, 1.6-3.5 inches (4-9 cm) long and 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) wide, arranged alternately, with new growth emerging pink to bronze before maturing to mid-green. Flower spikes form cylindrical brushes 1.2-2.8 inches (3-7 cm) long, cream to pale yellow and occasionally pink-tinged, with the projecting stamens forming the brush. Each spike carries numerous flowers that open over two to three weeks. Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from September to November in its native range, with scattered flushes at other times. Woody capsules 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) wide follow and persist along the stems for several years. The species grows along watercourses and in swampy ground and tolerates periodic waterlogging, though it grows more slowly in dry soils. It withstands light frost once established, but young plants are damaged below 27 F (-3 C).
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, occurring in New South Wales and Queensland along the coast and adjacent ranges. It grows naturally along riverbanks, creek margins, and in swampy lowland forest.Suggested Uses
Used as a screening shrub, windbreak, or small shade tree in gardens and along streets in frost-free to light-frost climates. Its tolerance of wet soils suits it to rain gardens, creek plantings, and bioretention basins. It is grown as a habitat plant for nectar-feeding birds and insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height16' - 33'
Width/Spread10' - 16'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from September to November in the native range and from late spring to early summer in Northern Hemisphere cultivation. Cream to pale-yellow brushes 1.2-2.8 inches (3-7 cm) long open over two to three weeks. Scattered secondary flushes can appear in summer and autumn on established plants.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Cream to pale yellowFoliage Description
Mid-green, with pink to bronze new growthGrowing 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 salicina in full sun to part shade in soils ranging from clay to sand, with a pH of 5.5-7.5. It tolerates seasonal waterlogging and grows along watercourses, but also withstands moderate drought once established. Water young plants weekly through the first two summers; established trees need supplemental water only during extended dry spells. Apply a low-phosphorus fertilizer in spring, as members of the Myrtaceae family are sensitive to high phosphorus levels. Frost below 27 F (-3 C) damages soft new growth, so growth is slower in cold-winter climates.Pruning
Prune after flowering to maintain density, removing up to one-third of the previous season's growth. Cutting just below the spent flower brushes encourages branching and reduces legginess. The species tolerates hard renewal pruning into older wood, which resprouts from epicormic buds.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 15 gallons