Agonis flexuosa

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Plant
ID 75 Agonis flexuosa
Botanic Name Agonis flexuosa
Common Name Willow Myrtle, Willow Peppermint, Peppermint Tree
Family Name Myrtaceae
Cultivars ‘After Dark’, 'Burgundy', 'Fairy Foliage', 'Jedda's Dream', 'Jervis Bay Afterdark', 'Nana', 'Variegata', 'Weeping Wonder', syn. Metrosideros flexuosa, var. latifolia,
Origin Western Australia, Zone 9-10
Growth Type Tree
Bark Type Fissured or Wrinkled
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Low
No. of Species 12
Growth Habit Small dome / Mallee Growth Rate Medium
Height 5 - 8 m (17 - 27 ft) Spread 10 m (33 ft)
Plant Overview
This small tree has rough brown bark with multiple trunks that branch out into a graceful weeping crown. It has thin light green lanced-shaped leaves and small white saucer-shaped flowers appear in a cluster along the branches during spring.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Lanceolate
The juvenile leaves are ovate and are arranged alternately. The mature leaves are lanceolate to linear with a conspicuous intermarginal vein and a short petiole and are up to 100 mm (4 in) long. They have oil glands that are aromatic when crushed.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Entire
Colour Light green
Size 50 - 100 mm ( 2.0 - 3.9 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Crateriform
The small crateriform white flowers are up to 9 mm (3/8 in) wide and are arranged in groups of 10 to 14 in a sessile, axillary globular cluster that appears during spring.
Inflorescence Cluster or Fascicle
Colour White
Size 6 - 9 mm ( 0.2 - 0.4 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Brown
The small circular capsule is up[ to 15 mm (2/3 in) long and has 3-valves and contains numerous tiny seeds. The seeds are viable but the plant may be reproduced vegetatively.
Edible No
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 10 - 15 mm ( 0.4 - 0.6 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained, sandy-stony to clay soils, tolerates most soils, pH 5.5-7.5
Container Agonis flexuosa nana is suitable for pot culture
Climate Warm temperate
Aspect Full sun, drought and frost tolerant, open to exposed position
Pest & Diseases Myrtle rust, moderately deer resistant
Fertiliser Application of slow releasd fertiliser during autumn
Pruning Train to a single leader when young, tolerates a light prune after flowering
Cultural Uses Propagation
Willow Myrtle is grown for its habit and planted as a specimen tree along borders as a wind break and in second line coastal plantings. It is also used for foliage contrast and it can be grown in heavy clay soil. This tree establishes in 2 to 4 years
Surface sow fresh seed during spring and prick out when large enough to handle. Pot-up and grow all for one season and plant out after the last frost. Take cuttings during the growing period.
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