West Australian Weeping Peppermint

West Australian Weeping Peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) is the native answer to a weeping willow, without the water demand or the invasive roots. It grows to about 8m tall and 5m wide, with narrow leaves hanging from gracefully arching branches and rough fibrous bark on a stout trunk. Crush a leaf and it smells strongly of peppermint. Small white flowers cluster along the stems in spring, and it is tough enough for a front row coastal position.

Why you'll love it

• A weeping shape that holds up. The arching habit gives real movement, and unlike a willow it is drought tolerant and does not chase water.
• Built for the coast. Salt tolerant and wind tolerant, so it performs on exposed beachside blocks where most weeping trees shred or brown off.
• Fragrant foliage. The peppermint scent released when leaves are crushed is a genuine pleasure beside a path or seating area.
• Birds and pollinators. Spring flowers bring in native bees and butterflies, and the dense canopy gives small birds cover.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart. At that spacing the canopies overlap into a continuous weeping curtain in four to five years.

Coastal gardens and windbreaks. Salt and wind tolerance make it a first choice for the seaward boundary. In a windbreak row it filters wind rather than blocking it.

Shade and driveway planting. A single tree over a seating area gives dappled shade and movement. Along a drive, space trees 5m to 6m apart so each keeps its weeping form.

Growing West Australian Weeping Peppermint in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest, most evenly weeping canopy. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and takes light frost only, so districts with regular hard frost will damage young trees. Coastal exposure is no problem.

Soil. Sandy, well drained soil is its natural home, and it accepts most types provided they drain. It will not tolerate waterlogged ground, so raise the planting position on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then reduce sharply. It is genuinely drought tolerant afterwards. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Lift the lower branches gradually if you want clearance for a mower or path. Avoid hard heading cuts, which spoil the weeping line.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown across nine sizes, from 140mm in packs of ten and 200mm in packs of six, through 250mm packs, single 300mm and 400mm pots, and up to advanced 30L, 45L, 90L and 100L stock. The smaller sizes are the value choice for a long screen, arriving as young single stemmed plants. From 30L upwards you are buying a tree with a formed trunk and the weeping habit showing.

Trees travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Some leaf drop in transit is normal. Expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather, and roughly 50cm to 80cm of height a year once established. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best coastal plants for beachside gardens
• Browse native trees for Australian gardens
• Plants that handle salt and coastal wind
• Screening plants in the 4m to 8m range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Three metres apart in a single row. That lets each canopy develop its weeping shape while still overlapping into a continuous screen within four to five years.

Are the roots a problem near pipes or paving?

Far less so than a willow or a large eucalypt, but this is still an 8m tree with a spreading root plate. Allow at least 3m of clearance from pipes, paving and building foundations.

Will it grow in a cold garden?

Only where frosts are light. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates, so repeated hard winter frost will damage young growth and check the tree badly.