Pink Surprise Honey Myrtle

Pink Surprise Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca groveana 'Pink Surprise') is a compact native shrub that flowers pink where its rare wild parent flowers white. It grows 2m to 3m tall and 1m to 2m wide, carries fluffy pink bottlebrush flowers from spring into summer, and asks very little of you once established. Unlike many melaleucas it copes with dry soil, dry spells and gardens at altitude.

Why you'll love it

• Pink bottlebrush flowers. Fluffy pink blooms open from spring into summer, on a shrub whose wild parent is a rare, white-flowered bush tree.
• Wildlife friendly. The nectar-rich flowers draw bees and butterflies, and the dense growth gives small birds somewhere to shelter.
• Dry soil is fine. It tolerates drought, light frost and coastal conditions once established, so it suits low-water gardens.
• Genuinely low maintenance. Mulch it, water it in, and prune once after flowering. That is the whole routine.
• Garden sized. At 1m to 2m wide it suits an informal hedge or a single feature shrub without needing acreage.

Where it works best

Informal hedging. Plant 1m apart in a single row. At that spacing the shrubs meet as they reach their 1m to 2m width, and one prune after flowering keeps the line dense.

Feature planting. Use one plant, or a group of three, as a flowering focal point. Leave 2m between plants so each keeps its shape.

Wildlife and native gardens. Plant it among other natives to build the layered cover that small birds use for refuge.

Dry and coastal beds. Established plants cope with coastal conditions and dry spells, though they dislike sitting in wet soil.

Growing Pink Surprise Honey Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, including cooler gardens at altitude, and tolerates light frost once established. In harder frost districts, give young plants some shelter.

Soil. Light, free-draining soil. Unlike many melaleucas it does not like wet feet, so avoid low spots where water sits. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound with coarse material mixed through.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well while it establishes, then leave it to the weather in all but long dry spells. A slow release native fertiliser in spring is plenty.

Pruning. Prune after flowering to encourage denser growth. Take off the spent flower tips and a little new growth rather than cutting hard into old wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pink Surprise Honey Myrtle as tube stock, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and it is the economical way to plant a hedge. The potted packs are larger and give a hedge line more presence in the first year. Plants travel upright and settle within a few weeks of planting.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our melaleuca and honey myrtle range
• More Australian native shrubs
• Plants for native bees: a year-round garden guide
• Drought tolerant plants for dry gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Plant 1m apart in a single row. Closer planting crowds the bases, and wider planting leaves gaps while the shrubs fill out.

Does it need a lot of water?

No. Water well while it establishes, then it manages on rainfall in most gardens. The bigger risk is too much water, because it does not like wet feet.

When should I prune it?

Straight after the flowers finish in summer. Pruning then encourages denser growth and keeps the shrub compact.