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Melaleuca thymifolia - Sm.

Common Name Thymeleaf melaleuca
Family Myrtaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp heathy places and open scrub[157, 260].
Range Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Melaleuca thymifolia Thymeleaf melaleuca


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Melaleuca thymifolia Thymeleaf melaleuca
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Melaleuca thymifolia is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. coronata.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic

An essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves and twigs is antiseptic[156].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Essential

An essential oil obtained from the leaves is comparable to the better Eucalyptus oils[156].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a fertile, well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in full sun[182]. Prefers a soil that does not contain much nitrogen[188]. Plants in Australian gardens succeed in a sunny position in most soils so long as they are moist[157]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country. Plants tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[157] but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. One report says that it can tolerate occasional lows to about -5°c[260]. Seed takes about 12 months to develop on the plant, the woody seed capsules persist for 3 or more years[200]. Any pruning is best done after the plants have flowered with the intention of maintaining a compact habit[200]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring or autumn onto a pot of permanently moist soil in a warm greenhouse. Emmerse in 5cm of water and do not water from overhead. Grow on until the seedlings are 0.5cm tall then remove from the water and pot up a week later. Seedlings are liable to damp off when grown this way, sowing the seed thinly, good ventilation and hygiene are essential for success[200]. Grow the plants on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe lateral shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales (east), Queensland (southeast))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Melaleuca alternifoliaTea TreeShrub6.0 8-11  LMHNM053
Melaleuca bracteataRiver teatreeShrub6.0 0-0  LMHNM023
Melaleuca hypericifoliaTea TreeShrub3.0 8-11  LMHSNM023
Melaleuca leucadendraPaperbark, Weeping PaperbarkTree30.0 10-12 FLMHNM243
Melaleuca linariifoliaFlax-Leaved Paper-Bark, Cajeput treeShrub10.0 8-11  LMHNM032
Melaleuca uncinataBroom honeymyrtleShrub2.0 0-0  LMHNDM013

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Sm.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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Subject : Melaleuca thymifolia  
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