Plant Profile: Agonis flexuosa
Family: Myrtaceae
Botanical name: Agonis flexuosa
Common name: Willow myrtle, Willow peppermint
Natural distribution: Coastal WA
Common cultivars: ‘Burgundy’, ‘Nana’, ‘Lemon lime’
Agonis flexuosa is a graceful feature tree with weeping branches and long pendulous foliage. Small white starry flowers explode along stems in spring-summer attracting insects and insectivorous birds. Agonis is also useful as a screening plant as it is relatively fast growing and responds well to pruning and shaping.
The various forms of Agonis offer a range of sizes for the home garden, and final size will vary depending on conditions and pruning. The natural form pictured above will grow into a larger tree 6-10m tall x 4-6m wide.
The lovely ‘Burgundy’ form is more compact reaching 4-5m tall x 3-5m wide making it an excellent small-medium feature tree or screening plant in suburban gardens. We have one at our place that gives us privacy from neighbouring units.
‘Nana’ is a naturally compact shrub form reaching 1-2m x 1-2m that should be clipped regularly for best effect. It is useful as a hedge or low screen and has interesting coppery red new growth.
Originating in coastal Western Australia, Agonis is well adapted to sandy soil and tolerates coastal winds and salt spray. It prefers a sunny position with well drained soil, however it is hardy and does well in a range of conditions. We have found it grows happily in our clay soil in Hobart, albeit slower than if it were out by the coast.
Agonis is susceptible to myrtle rust (Puccinia psidii) an invasive fungal pathogen originating from South America and first detected in on the east coast of the Australian mainland in 2010. The pathogen spreads via windborne spores and vigorously attacks new foliage, buds and flowers. Unfortunately it affects many genus in the Myrtaceae family (eg. Eucalytpus, Callistemon, Leptospermum) and poses a significant threat to many of Australia’s Myrtaceae rich ecosystems.
While the disease was discovered here in Tasmania in 2015, it has not yet become a widespread problem, potentially due to the cool temperate climate. If you do detect any signs of myrtle rust in your garden or on a bushwalk you should contact Biosecurity Tasmania to assist in the prevention of the spread of this invasive pathogen.
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