Also known as Paperbark · 30 saves
Melaleuca
Melaleuca, the genus most gardeners know as paperbark. We track 20 varieties; the ones most used by real gardeners.
The 20 most-saved Melaleuca varieties
17 species of Melaleuca
Each one is a parent of the varieties above.
Track your Melaleuca in Sow
Save the Melaleuca you grow and get care reminders timed to your zone.
How to grow Melaleuca
Whats common across all Melaleuca varieties in our catalog — drawn from the care records of the 20 most-grown of them.
The Melaleuca year
- PruneJune, August and September100% of varieties
Tip-prune lightly after the main flowering flush to shape the canopy and encourage dense growth.
- FertilizeMarch and April100% of varieties
Apply a low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly if growth is sluggish, though feeding is rarely required.
- Check for PestsJune and July100% of varieties
Inspect the trunk and branches for borer frass, and check new growth for signs of myrtle rust.
- PropagateJuly and August70% of varieties
Collect woody seed capsules and dry them in a paper bag to release seed for sowing.
- MulchOctober and November40% of varieties
Apply organic mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and protect roots.
Do
- Grow in full sun to ensure dense foliage and maximum flowering.
- Ensure the soil has excellent drainage, even when planting in heavier clay soils.
- Prune lightly immediately after the spring flowering flush to maintain shape.
- Water regularly during dry spells to maintain soil moisture, especially while the plant is establishing.
- Tip-prune young plants after flowering to encourage a dense, bushy habit.
Avoid
- Do not use standard high-phosphorus fertilisers.
- Do not prune hard into old, leafless wood as the plant will not regenerate from bare stems.
- Do not overwater or allow the roots to sit in stagnant, waterlogged clay.
- Do not apply high-phosphorus fertilisers; use native-specific formulations sparingly if at all.
What goes wrong with Melaleuca
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Borers | Sawdust-like frass on the trunk or branches, accompanied by localized branch dieback. | Probe the entry holes with a fine wire to destroy the larvae, or prune out and dispose of heavily infested branches. |
| Scale insects | Sooty mould on leaves and sticky honeydew on stems, accompanied by small dome-like bumps on branches. | Apply horticultural oil during cooler hours to suffocate the pests, or prune out heavily infested stems. |
| Psyllids and gall insects | Sucking damage causing leaf distortion, pitting, or abnormal growths on foliage. | Allow natural predators to manage minor populations, or apply horticultural oils for heavy infestations. |
| Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii) | Bright yellow-orange powdery pustules appearing on young leaves, stems, and buds. | Remove and dispose of severely infected material immediately, and apply an appropriate registered fungicide if necessary. |
| Myrtle rust | Bright yellow-orange powdery pustules on young leaves, stems, and buds. | Prune out and dispose of infected material, apply registered fungicides for severe cases, and avoid overhead watering. |
| Myrtle Rust | Purple-brown spots on leaves, distorted new growth, and bright yellow pustules. | Prune out infected tissue, avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry, and apply an approved fungicide if necessary. |
| Phytophthora dieback | Sudden wilting, yellowing foliage, and root rot. | Ensure excellent soil drainage and apply phosphite treatments if necessary. |
Making more Melaleuca
Semi-hardwood cuttings
- Take semi-hardwood cuttings from healthy, firm current-season growth during the warmer months.
- Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut base into a rooting hormone powder or gel.
- Insert the cuttings into a free-draining propagation mix of peat and perlite.
- Keep the mix moist and place in a warm, humid environment until roots establish.
Seed
- Collect mature, closed woody seed capsules from the branches.
- Place the capsules in a warm, dry paper bag until they open and release the fine seed.
- Sow the seed onto the surface of a moist, free-draining seed-raising mix.
- Keep the medium lightly moist in a warm, sunny position until germination occurs.
Melaleuca questions
How many types of Melaleuca are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 20 distinct Melaleuca varieties. The most popular — ranked by 30 real gardeners — are shown first above.
What zones does Melaleuca grow in?
Across its varieties, Melaleuca 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 Melaleuca bloom?
Most Melaleuca varieties bloom in late spring, spring, winter. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Melaleuca 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.