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Melicytus dentatus

tree violet

Violaceae South-eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Melicytus dentatus is a rigid, spreading evergreen shrub in the violet family (Violaceae), formerly known as Hymenanthera dentata. It grows 3-10 ft (1-3 m) tall and wide, with interlacing, often spine-tipped branchlets that form a dense, tangled habit. Native to south-eastern Australia, it occurs along watercourses, forest margins, and rocky slopes. The narrow leaves are 0.4-2 in (1-5 cm) long, dull green, with toothed or entire margins. Plants are usually dioecious, carrying separate male and female flowers; the small bell-shaped blooms, 0.1-0.2 in (3-5 mm) across, are cream to pale yellow and hang along the stems in spring. Female plants ripen rounded berries about 0.2 in (5 mm) wide that turn white to purple, taken by birds. The spiny, twiggy structure forms shelter and nesting sites for small birds but makes the shrub awkward to handle. It tolerates frost, drought, and a wide range of soils, and reshoots after damage, though its dense thorny growth can become weedy in moist sites.

Native Range

Melicytus dentatus is native to south-eastern Australia, occurring in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania. It grows along creek lines, in open woodland, and on rocky hillsides, often on heavier soils.

Suggested Uses

Used as a barrier or habitat hedge, for revegetation along watercourses, and in bird-attracting native gardens. The thorny habit forms a dense stock or intruder barrier when planted in rows. Spaced 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) apart for a dense screen.

How to Identify

Identified by its dense, interlacing branchlets that often end in sharp spines, and narrow leaves 0.4-2 in (1-5 cm) long. Tiny cream to pale-yellow bell flowers hang directly along the older stems. Female plants carry small rounded berries ripening from white to purple.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread3' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Small cream to pale-yellow flowers appear in spring, mainly September to November, clustered along the previous season's wood. As the species is largely dioecious, only female plants set the white-to-purple berries that follow in summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to pale yellow

Foliage Description

dull green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

It grows in full sun to part shade on most soils, including clay and seasonally dry ground, and is hardy to moderate frost. Once established it tolerates extended dry spells. Water occasionally in the first year, then rely on rainfall in temperate climates. The dense spiny growth needs room, and both male and female plants are required for berry set. It needs little feeding and reshoots strongly after cutting.

Pruning

Prune in late winter to contain the spreading, thorny canopy and remove dead interior wood. The species tolerates hard cutting and regrows from old wood. The spine-tipped stems make trimming slow work.