Melaleuca squamea
swamp honey-myrtle
South-eastern Australia and Tasmania
Overview
Melaleuca squamea is an evergreen shrub growing 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall and 3-6.5 feet (1-2 m) wide, with an erect, sometimes straggly habit and stiff, spreading branches. The leaves are small, narrow, and crowded along the stems, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, dull green, and spirally arranged with a heath-like look. Globular flower heads 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across form at or near the branch tips, mauve to purple and occasionally white, with the colour coming from clusters of stamens. Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from August to November in the native range. Small woody capsules follow and cluster along the older stems. The shrub grows in swamps, wet heath, and the margins of streams and soaks across south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, on acidic, peaty, and seasonally waterlogged soils. It tolerates wet ground, frost, and exposure but grows slowly in dry conditions. The lower stems can become bare and woody with age.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania. It grows in swamps, wet heath, and along streams on acidic, peaty soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in bog gardens, pond and stream margins, and rain gardens on acidic soils. It suits wet, low-lying sites and seasonal soaks where drainage is poor. The flowers are a nectar source for bees, birds, and other insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from August to November in the native range and in the corresponding spring months in Northern Hemisphere cultivation. Globular mauve to purple flower heads 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across open near the branch tips over several weeks. White-flowered forms occur in some populations.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Mauve to purpleFoliage Description
Dull greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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 squamea in full sun to part shade in moist to wet, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5-6.5. It tolerates seasonal waterlogging and grows in boggy and poorly drained sites where many shrubs fail. Growth slows in dry soils, so steady moisture suits it. It is sensitive to high phosphorus, so a low-phosphorus fertilizer suits it in spring. The shrub withstands frost to about 20 F (-7 C) once established.Pruning
Prune after flowering to keep the shrub dense and limit bare, woody lower stems. Cutting back up to one-third of the previous season's growth encourages branching. The species tolerates harder pruning into older wood, which resprouts from the base.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons