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Melaleuca bracteata
Myrtaceae FAMILY

Melaleuca bracteata

Melaleuca bracteata

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Melaleuca bracteata is a plant of the arid to moist, lowland tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 34°c, but can tolerate 10 - 43°c[1]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 900mm, but tolerates 200 - 1,150mm[1]. Grows best in a sunny position, but can tolerate light shade[1]. Grows best in a medium to heavy, well-drained soil of moderate fertility[1]. Requires a fertile, well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in full sun[2]. Prefers a soil that does not contain much nitrogen[3]. Plants can succeed in wet soils in hot somewhat arid regions[4]. Tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[1]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[1]. Seed takes about 12 months to develop on the plant, the woody seed capsules persist for 3 or more years[5]. Any pruning is best done after the plants have flowered with the intention of maintaining a compact habit[5]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].

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[5]. 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, mid summer in a frame[5]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Melaleuca+bracteata>

Pollinators

Bees, Insects

References

  1. [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  2. [2]Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. — Thomas. G. S. · Murray · 1992 · ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 ↩︎Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
  3. [3]The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers — Brickell. C. · Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. · 1990 · ISBN 0-86318-386-7 ↩︎Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
  4. [4]Australian Native Plants. — Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. · Collins. (Australia) · 1988 · ISBN 0-7322-0021-0 ↩︎A lovely book, written in order to encourage Australian gardeners to grow their native plants. A little bit of information for the plant project.
  5. [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  6. [6]Useful Wild Plants in Australia. — Cribb. A. B. and J. W. · William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney · 1981 · ISBN 0-00-216441-8 ↩︎A very readable book.
  7. [7]Flowers of India — http://www.flowersofindia.net/ ↩︎A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.