A Purple-Pink Mystery

My husband and I went into Alameda for a street fair in late July. While trying to stand out of the way while my husband waited in a baked goods line, a large, intriguing shrub caught my eye. It was very overgrown and was the only planting in front of what looked like an old apartment building. What drew me in were the purplish-pink pompom flowers growing on the ends of the branches.

I had to check it out and take some pictures. The flowers were even more striking close up. When I got home, I put the pictures into several plant ID and search apps. I think the plant is Melaleuca nesophila in the Myrtaceae family. Common names include Pink Melaleuca and Showy Honey-Myrtle.

They are evergreen large shrubs/small trees that are native to West Australia. In the US, they tend to top out at 20 feet high and 12 feet wide. They grow in USDA Zones 9,10, and 11 and Sunset Zones 13,16-24. They are hardy to about 20 degrees. These plants can tolerate sandy, rocky, or regular soil; even clay if it is well drained. They can handle ocean winds and even the salt of sea spray. They are drought tolerant.

They bloom in late spring to summer. The flowers can be used as cut flowers. They have attractive seed capsules that remain on the tree for some time providing further interest. The trunks have thick peeling bark. I was not able to appreciate this on the plant that I saw as it was so overgrown. The branches grow in a twisting manner. Several of the sources suggested selectively pruning these trees to show off the growth pattern and the bark.

The tree attracts bees and birds, as well as, visiting Master Gardeners. It grows well on slopes and its roots don't seem to cause problems in the landscape. Melaleuca nesophila does not take well to full shade or soggy soil. The only diseases I could find associated with the plant were Phytophthora and root rot.

Pink Melaleuca seems like such a plucky little shrub/tree, a real survivor. Low-maintenance, low-water-use plants become increasingly attractive as I age and the climate warms. When the plant has the bonus of outstanding flowers, it seems like a real winner. I would love to hear from anyone who has grown it themselves.

Resources:

“SelecTree.UFEI “ melaleuca nesophila Tree Record.” 1995-2024. Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. Accessed on August 12,2024”

<https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/932

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/melaleuca-nesophila

Melaleuca nesophila. photos by Karen Metz