Plant of the Month – Melaleuca pachyphylla – Wallum Bottlebrush

This month we highlight the Melaleuca pachyphylla [syn. Callistemon pachyphyllus].

It is commonly known as the wallum bottlebrush for the sandy, coastal heath habitat where it thrives in typical wallum conditions of wet in the wet season, dry in the dry.

A shrub to 1.5m that flowers mainly in spring and autumn producing red ‘bottlebrush’ flower spikes at the end of branches. It responds to pruning and an annual fertiliser by becoming more dense and flowering profusely.

The nectar is attractive to many honeyeaters while Aboriginal people used it to make a sweet drink by soaking the flower in water.

It is fire tolerant, shooting again from the lignotuber after fire damage. The green flowering variety is known as M. pachyphylla viridis.

Shrubs with ‘bottlebrush’ flowers grow extremely well in our local conditions & come in an endless variety of colours, shapes and sizes.

Cooloola City Farm Nursery is located opposite the Community Centre at 17 Amity Place off Tin Can Bay Road.

Opening Hours:  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays   8am-3.00pm.

Cash or EFTPOS acceptable

Phone: (07) 5486-2304

Email address: ccfni09@gmail.com

Website address: www.cooloolacityfarm.org.