Melichrus urceolatus
urn heath
Overview
Melichrus urceolatus is a low, spreading heath shrub growing 8-32 inches (20-80 cm) tall, with stiff, wiry branches and crowded leaves. Leaves are stiff, narrow, lance-shaped to triangular, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, ending in a sharp point, concave above with several parallel veins, and grey-green to bluish-green. Flowers are small, 0.2-0.3 inch (4-7 mm) long, urn-shaped and greenish-white to cream, held singly in the leaf axils along the stems, with the petals fused into a swollen tube that narrows at the mouth. Nectar collects at the base of the flower. Fruit is a small rounded drupe. The plant grows on a woody base and has a slow growth rate, forming a dense, prickly low mound. Flowering occurs mainly through autumn and winter. Foliage is held year-round, and the sharp leaf tips make the shrub uncomfortable to handle. It tolerates dry, infertile soils and short frosts but declines in wet, poorly drained ground.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Australia, occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and heath on shallow, low-nutrient sandy and gravelly soils, often on ridges and rocky slopes.Suggested Uses
Grown in native heath gardens, rockeries, and low-water borders, spaced 16-24 inches (40-60 cm) apart. Suited to sandy-soil and coastal gardens and as a low, prickly ground layer in bush plantings. Grows in containers of at least 2 gallons (8 L) with free-draining, low-phosphorus mix.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'8"
Width/Spread1'4" - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish-white to creamFoliage Description
grey-green to bluish-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 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 light shade on free-draining sandy or gravelly soils low in nutrients. Established plants tolerate drought and short frosts; waterlogging and rich, fertilised soils cause root decline. Watering through the first summer aids establishment. Like many heaths, it is sensitive to high phosphorus, and standard phosphate fertilisers can damage the roots. Growth is slow, and plants are difficult to transplant once established because of the wiry root system. Few pests affect it.Pruning
Light tip pruning after flowering keeps the plant compact. Cutting into bare old wood often fails to reshoot, so pruning is limited to younger growth. The sharp leaf tips make trimming slow.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons