Dwarf Willow Myrtle

Dwarf Willow Myrtle (Agonis flexuosa 'Nana') is the compact form of the Western Australian peppermint, and it makes one of the neatest low native hedges available. It settles at about 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide with fine weeping foliage that smells of peppermint when crushed, and small white flowers along the stems in spring. Planted 1m apart it forms a soft, rounded hedge that needs very little shaping.

Why you'll love it

• Fine weeping foliage. The narrow leaves arch over, so even a clipped hedge reads as soft rather than hard edged.
• Peppermint scent. Crushed foliage releases a clean peppermint aroma, which makes it worth planting beside a path.
• Coastal and wind hardy. Salt air and constant wind are normal conditions for it, so exposed boundaries suit it well.
• Native and bird friendly. Small white spring flowers bring in insects, and the dense interior gives small birds cover.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 1m apart for a low hedge. At that spacing the plants meet in two to three seasons and hold at 1.2m to 1.5m with one trim a year.

Mass planting, borders and edging. Set at the same 1m spacing it also works as a rolling mass planting along a driveway or a fence, with no formal clipping at all.

Coastal gardens and pots. It takes salt wind on an exposed block, and a pot 400mm or wider holds a single plant near 1m for years.

Growing Dwarf Willow Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest growth, though it tolerates part shade with a looser habit. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost once established, so hard frosting inland districts and cold southern gardens want something hardier. Constant tropical humidity is also not to its liking.

Soil. Well drained, and sandy soils are ideal given its Western Australian origins. On clay, mound the bed and work coarse material through. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then weekly, then only in dry spells from the second year. A light native fertiliser in early spring is enough. It is drought tolerant once established, but not a plant you can abandon in its first year.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density low down, then trim after the spring flowering. Growth is slow, so light annual work is all it takes. Avoid cutting hard into bare wood, which it is slow to recover from.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown: tube stock, and single plants in 500mm pots. Tube stock is the sensible choice for a hedge run, though be realistic about the pace: this is a slow growing plant, and a tube takes three to four years to reach hedge height. The 500mm plants arrive as established, branched specimens and give you most of that time back.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect roughly 150mm to 300mm of growth a year, the trade off for a plant that holds its shape without constant cutting. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to plant a hedge and keep it looking sharp
• Screening plants that finish between 1m and 2m
• Browse the Australian native shrub range
• Salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Because growth is slow, 800mm spacing is reasonable if you want the hedge to close a season sooner and you accept the extra plants.

Does it really stay at 1.5m?

Yes, this dwarf form settles near 1.5m in both directions, unlike the full species which becomes a tree. A single annual trim holds it nearer 1.2m if you prefer.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only, and only once established. Cold inland and southern gardens with regular hard frosts will see damage, so a frost hardy native shrub is the better choice there.