Communities

Scientific Name

Melaleuca squamea

Family Name

MYRTACEAE

Common Name

Swamp Melaleuca

Status

Height

1.0m - 6.0m (100-600cm)

Flowers

Usually pink-purple less commonly white or yellow, terminal spherical clusters ,no stalks.

Fruit

Woody capsule

Form

Erect shrub or small tree.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Heath; Montane Vegetation; Swamps

Habitat Notes

Widespread in wet heaths, sea level to approximately 1500m.

Site Tolerance

Exposed; Moist; Waterlogged; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Well-drained

General Notes

Susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi . Susceptible to browsing by possums and wallabies. Not suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

capsules persistent for several years

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Long

Viable Seeds Per Gram

1500

Seed Treatment Notes

Keep very damp after sowing.Seed has good viability but if no growth occurs 2 weeks after germination soluble fertilizer may be used.

Germination Time

10-30 days

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

4-6 weeks

Expected Time to Plant Out

12 weeks

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Cuttings best taken after flowering when wood is semi-hardened.