Melaleuca nesophila


Also called Pink Melaleuca and Showy Honey Myrtle this native of Australia is another Melaleuca that loves our area. Leaves are small leathery and obovate and the bark is light brown and spongy. The pom pom mauve flowers are profuse and look like something from the Dr. Seuss story about Tuffula trees. Main bloom season is in the spring. Pink Melaleuca takes full sun, sand, salt spray and wind. It does not need much water when established. It makes a fine tight shrub, manicured hedge or smallish tree with pruning. Although thismore of a flowing BUSH it is not fussy about soil or wind, it is prone to laying over in sandy soil as it gets larger. Perhaps keeping as a small shrub would help the stabilize the roots in sandy soil.	Maximum height 15-20 feet 8-12 feet wide Life Span 40+ years

Criteria for Ranking	Ranking 1 (low) - 5 (high)
Drought Tolerance after first year establishment	5
Wind Tolerance	4*
Frost Tolerance	5
Surface Roots/Sidewalk Lifting	5
Power Lines Proximity	5 (good choice)
Cost/Maintenance	4*
Disease Resistance/Hardiness	5

*note asterisk denote species will be shaped by a prevailing wind. Single trunk trained trees need more protection than multi-trunk to grow straight or prevent falling over from shallow roots.
*note species needs pruning to create single trunk specimen. Nesophila is really more of a fat shrub by nature.
Location Many Pink Melaleuca are being used in the landscaping by the REI in the Dunes shopping center on 2nd Avenue. They seem to be doing well.