Melaleuca Viridiflora – Broad-leafed Paperbark

Description

Melaleuca viridiflora – Broad-leaved Paperbark

Family: Myrtaceae
Packet Size: Approx. 500+ seeds

Description

Melaleuca viridiflora is a distinctive broad-leaved paperbark from tropical northern Australia and New Guinea. Its open, branching habit, pale papery bark and large leathery leaves give it a bold landscape presence. Most plants bear cream to greenish-cream flower spikes, although naturally occurring pink and red forms are also known.

Found in seasonally wet woodland, savanna and streamside habitats, it commonly grows as a small to medium tree around 3–10 m high. This seed offering has been labelled as a pale-flowering form and suits tropical and warm subtropical landscapes with room to mature.

Key Features

• Foliage: Broad, leathery dark-green leaves with visible lengthwise veins.
• Flowers: Dense cylindrical spikes, commonly cream to greenish-cream, attractive to nectar visitors.
• Bark: Layered, greyish to pale paperbark with a sculptural trunk.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Full sun to light shade.
• Soil: Adaptable to seasonally wet, heavy or freely draining soils with sufficient moisture during establishment.
• Climate: Best suited to tropical and warm subtropical sites; protect from hard frost.
• Care: Water while establishing and allow space for a naturally open canopy.

Propagation from Seed

1. Prepare: This fine seed does not require nicking or hot-water treatment.
2. Sow: Spread thinly over moistened free-draining seed mix and press gently onto the surface.
3. Germinate: Maintain warmth, bright filtered light and consistent moisture without saturating the mix.
4. Pot on: Carefully transplant rooted seedlings and acclimatise to stronger light.

Seed-Grown Variation

Most plants of this species are pale-flowered, but flower colour varies naturally across the species. The exact colour of an individual seed-grown tree cannot be guaranteed.

Germination advice: These instructions are a recommended guide. Germination results and timing may vary depending on seed freshness, storage, temperature and growing conditions. Alternative propagation methods may also be successful.