Melaleuca thymifolia
thyme honey-myrtle
Overview
Melaleuca thymifolia is a small, open evergreen shrub 1.5-3 feet (0.5-1 m) tall and wide with slender, wiry branches. The aromatic leaves are narrow and 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, crowded along the stems and releasing a scent when crushed, the source of the common name thyme honey-myrtle. Mauve to purple flowers are grouped in small clusters along the older wood below the leafy tips, each cluster about 0.6-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) across with the stamens bundled into five claw-like groups that give the flower its feathery, hooked outline. Flowering occurs mainly in summer with scattered blooms at other times. Small woody capsules form in clusters on the stems and persist for years. The shrub grows in damp heath and along watercourses and tolerates periodic waterlogging better than many dryland shrubs. It is native to eastern Australia and withstands light frost once established. The open habit can become straggly without occasional trimming.
Native Range
Melaleuca thymifolia is native to eastern Australia, from coastal and near-coastal Queensland through New South Wales. It grows in damp heath, swamp margins, and along watercourses on sandy and clay soils that are seasonally wet.Suggested Uses
Used in damp borders, rain gardens, and the moist edges of ponds and swales where many shrubs struggle. Planted in native and habitat gardens for its summer flowers, which draw bees and other insects. Grown in containers of moisture-retentive mix in full sun.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 3'
Width/Spread1'6" - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in summer, around November to February in its native range, with scattered flushes through the warmer months. The clustered flowers form along the older wood. Woody seed capsules follow and remain on the stems.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
mauve to purpleFoliage Description
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
Grows in full sun to part shade on moist to wet soils, tolerating clay and periodic waterlogging that many shrubs cannot. It also grows in ordinary garden soil with regular water and adapts to a wide pH range. Low-phosphorus conditions suit this Australian native. The shrub flowers on older wood, so a trim after flowering keeps it bushy. It tolerates light frost once established, though young growth can be damaged by hard freezes. Plants reshoot freely from the base in response to pruning.Pruning
A trim straight after flowering keeps the shrub compact and encourages a denser habit, as growth and flowers form on older wood. The plant reshoots readily, including from hard cutting back into old wood. Light shaping each year prevents the open habit from becoming straggly.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons