Melaleuca wilsonii: is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is known as Wilson’s Honey-myrtle.
Melaleuca wilsonii is a dense shrub that reaches a height between one and two metres with a spread of two metres. Older branches become leafless and corky.
Leaves are decussate (having a cross-like arrangement when viewed from above), linear and pointed.
Flower spikes are deep ink to mauve-purple. They appear in spring, carried on last year’s wood and may be very long. Both the colour and size, of the blooms, are very attractive.
Melaleuca wilsonii is a native of south-east South Australia and north-west Victoria. Many years ago we were travelling in western Victoria and came across a large population of Melaleuca wilsonii in full flower. We were so taken by this floral extravaganza that we nearly drove off the road.
Melaleuca wilsonii is probably the most colourful of eastern Australia’s Melaleucas.
For dramatic effect plant this species in the foreground of a native garden bed.
The specimen illustrated is a juvenile plant growing in one of our gardens and this is its first flowering. No doubt, in the fullness of time, the flower spikes will increase in length.
Propagate from seed and cuttings.

Plants