Also known as Tick Bush · 29 saves
Kunzea
Kunzea, the genus most gardeners know as tick bush. We track 4 varieties; the ones most used by real gardeners.
The 3 most-saved Kunzea varieties
Browse all 4 Kunzea varieties →
3 species of Kunzea
Each one is a parent of the varieties above.
Track your Kunzea in Sow
Save the Kunzea you grow and get care reminders timed to your zone.
How to grow Kunzea
Whats common across all Kunzea varieties in our catalog — drawn from the care records of the 4 most-grown of them.
The Kunzea year
- PruneJuly and August100% of varieties
Prune lightly immediately after the main flowering flush to maintain shape and density.
- FertilizeMarch and April100% of varieties
Apply a low-phosphorus native plant fertilizer sparingly at the start of the growing season.
- Check for PestsJune–August75% of varieties
Monitor foliage for Japanese beetles and spider mites during hot summer months.
- Winter PrepNovember and December50% of varieties
Protect young plants from severe frost with burlap or move container specimens indoors.
Do
- Prune the tips immediately after the flowering cycle to promote dense, bushy growth.
- Ensure the soil drainage is sharp and rapid to prevent fatal root rot.
- Use a low-phosphorus fertilizer formulated for native plants if growth appears sluggish.
- Plant in sandy or gravelly soils to ensure rapid drainage.
- Prune the soft, green tip growth annually after flowering to encourage dense branching.
Avoid
- Do not prune hard into bare, brown wood, as the plant cannot regenerate from old stems.
- Do not allow the plant to sit in standing water or heavy, waterlogged clay soils.
- Do not apply standard high-phosphorus garden fertilizers.
- Do not prune back into bare, brown wood, as it will not resprout.
What goes wrong with Kunzea
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on branch tips and stippled, yellowing leaves under hot, dry conditions. | Blast foliage with a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal soap to leaf undersides. |
| Scale insects | Small, waxy bumps on the stems and sticky honeydew residue on the lower leaves. | Prune out heavily infested twigs and apply horticultural oil during the dormant season. |
| Aphids | Distorted or yellowing leaves | Use insecticidal soap or introduce natural predators like ladybugs |
| Japanese beetles | Skeletonized foliage and chewed leaves during mid-summer. | Hand-pick beetles into soapy water or apply physical row covers during peak activity. |
| Powdery mildew | White, powdery fungal patches on leaves and young shoots in humid, stagnant air. | Prune to improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering. |
| Root rot | Sudden wilting, yellowing foliage, and branch dieback caused by Phytophthora or Pythium in wet soil. | Ensure immaculate soil drainage and avoid overwatering; discard severely infected plants. |
| Phytophthora root rot | Sudden wilting, yellowing foliage, and rapid dieback of branches, especially during warm, wet periods. | Ensure impeccable soil drainage and avoid overwatering; there is no chemical cure once infection occurs. |
Making more Kunzea
Semi-hardwood cuttings
- Take 3- to 4-inch cuttings of semi-hardwood from firm, current-season growth in late summer.
- Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the base in rooting hormone.
- Insert the cuttings into a well-draining mix of perlite and peat, keeping the medium moist but not wet.
- Place in a warm, humid environment with indirect light until roots establish in 6 to 8 weeks.
Cuttings
- Select healthy semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
- Dip cuttings in rooting hormone powder.
- Plant in moist, well-draining potting mix.
- Keep soil consistently moist and place in indirect sunlight.
- Roots develop in 6 weeks.
Kunzea questions
How many types of Kunzea are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 4 distinct Kunzea varieties. The most popular — ranked by 29 real gardeners — are shown first above.
What zones does Kunzea grow in?
Across its varieties, Kunzea covers USDA Zones 8–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Kunzea bloom?
Most Kunzea varieties bloom in late spring, spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Kunzea should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.