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Agonis flexuosa is often confused with:: Salix babylonica
Plants that fill a similar niche:: Ilex crenata 'Latifolia'; Syringa oblata; Vernicia fordii

Swan River Peppermint Agonis flexuosa

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

AG-on-iss fleks-yoo-OH-suh

Description

Willow myrtle has weeping pendulous branches and copper backed leaves and is native to mild coastal climates and habitats of western Australia. It prefers moist sandy soils in full sun but is adaptable as long as the soil is well-drained. It is drought tolerant once established and has good salt tolerance.

The leaves are long and narrow and the flowers occur in small clusters along the stems in spring. Mature trees have a weeping habit. This is an appropriate tree for warm coastal areas with mild winters in zones 9 and higher.

See this plant in the following landscape:

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Burgundy'
New growth is burgundy

'Burgundy'

Tags:

#weeping #evergreen #small tree #white flowers #flowering tree #copper leaves #ornamentals #sandy soils tolerant

Form — Form Forest and Kim Starr CC BY 2.0

Grove of trees — Grove of trees Gordon Edwards CC BY-SA 2.5

Flowers — Flowers Eric in SF CC BY-SA 4.0

Close up of flower — Close up of flower Thiele CC BY 2.0

Leaves and flowers — Leaves and flowers Forest and Kim Starr CC BY 2.0

Bark — Bark Dodshe CC BY-SA 3.0

'Burgundy' bark — 'Burgundy' bark Kathleen Moore CC BY 2.0

'Burgundy' — 'Burgundy' Kathleen Moore CC BY 2.0

'Burgundy' leaves — 'Burgundy' leaves Kathleen Moore CC BY 2.0

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Burgundy'
New growth is burgundy

'Burgundy'

Tags:

#weeping #evergreen #small tree #white flowers #flowering tree #copper leaves #ornamentals #sandy soils tolerant

Attributes:
Genus:

Agonis

Species:

flexuosa

Family:

Myrtaceae

Uses (Ethnobotany):

antiseptic uses

Life Cycle:

Woody

Country Or Region Of Origin:

West and south western Australia

Dimensions:

Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.

Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Tree

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Habit/Form:

Rounded

Vase

Weeping

Growth Rate:

Rapid

Maintenance:

Medium

Texture:

Fine

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

Clay

Loam (Silt)

Sand

Soil pH:

Alkaline (>8.0)

Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Moist

Available Space To Plant:

24-60 feet

NC Region:

Coastal

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

Fruit:
Fruit Type:

Capsule

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Fruit Description:

The fruit is a 3-valved capsule, are .1 inch long and wide and are formed in clusters

Flowers:
Flower Color:

White

Flower Value To Gardener:

Showy

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Shape:

Star

Flower Petals:

6 petals/rays

Flower Description:

6 petaled 1/2 inch white flowers occur in clusters in the axils of leaves.

Leaves:
Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Leaf Color:

Brown/Copper

Green

Leaf Value To Gardener:

Fragrant

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Shape:

Lanceolate

Linear

Leaf Margin:

Entire

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

3-6 inches

Leaf Description:

Green narrow leaves are 4- 6 inches long with a copper underside. Crushed leaves have a peppermint aroma.

Bark:
Bark Color:

Light Brown

Red/Burgundy

Bark Description:

Coarse red-brown bark.

Stem:
Stem Color:

Brown/Copper

Red/Burgundy

Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Stem Form:

Zig Zags

Stem Description:

Reddish-brown stems with a distinctive zig-zag pattern

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Coastal

Recreational Play Area

Walkways

Design Feature:

Flowering Tree

Mass Planting

Street Tree

Resistance To Challenges:

Drought

Salt