Melaleuca micromera

Fine leaved honey myrtle (Melaleuca micromera) is a Western Australian shrub with foliage so fine it reads almost as a conifer, and one of the tidiest small native hedges available. It grows to about 2m tall and 1.5m wide, and clusters of small yellow flowers run along the stems in spring. Drought, poor soil and periodically wet ground are all within its range.

Why you'll love it

• Texture you cannot get from a conifer. The tiny overlapping leaves give a soft, densely packed surface that clips cleanly and never looks coarse.
• Right size for a boundary hedge. At about 2m by 1.5m it screens a fence line without becoming a maintenance problem.
• It takes both extremes of soil. Drought tolerant and poor soil tolerant, yet also happy where ground stays damp after rain, which is unusual in one plant.
• Native, and busy with wildlife. The yellow flower clusters bring in bees, butterflies and small honeyeaters through spring.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense screen. The fine foliage means a clipped face looks solid rather than twiggy, and it reshoots readily after trimming.

Feature planting. A single specimen holds a soft, rounded form with almost no work, which suits a native bed or a low water courtyard.

Coastal gardens. It suits coastal blocks where the fine foliage handles wind well, though set it back from the front line of salt spray.

Growing melaleuca micromera in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest growth. It is at home in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens are outside its range.

Soil. Undemanding. Sand, gravel, clay and poor ground all work, and it tolerates soil that stays wet after rain better than most natives. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first two summers to establish, then only in extended dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser once in early spring. Phosphorus rich fertilisers damage plants in this family.

Pruning. Tip prune from the day it goes in, which is what builds density at the base. For a formal hedge, trim lightly two or three times a year, starting after spring flowering. It responds to regular light trims, so avoid letting it get away and then cutting hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock. These are young single stemmed plants around 100mm to 200mm tall, the economical way to plant a long hedge line, and they establish quickly once in the ground.

Growth is slow to moderate, so expect two to three seasons before a 1m spaced row closes into a solid screen. Plant tubes into prepared ground promptly and keep them damp for the first month. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full melaleuca range.
• Compare other screening plants that hold at 1m to 2m.
• See more native plants with yellow flowers.
• Shop the wider tube stock range for cost effective hedge planting.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Tighter spacing does not close the gap any faster and makes watering and feeding harder in the early years.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. It handles the occasional cold morning in a warm temperate or Mediterranean garden, but it is not a plant for the tablelands, alpine districts or hard frosting inland areas.

Can I keep it lower than 2m?

Yes. Regular light trimming holds it at 1m to 1.5m easily, and the fine foliage means a clipped surface still looks dense rather than stubbly.