Browse plants / Myrtaceae
Common fringe-myrtle Calytrix tetragona
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, not flowering
- September, flowering
- October, flowering
- November, flowering
- December, not flowering
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Small shrub covered in starry white to pink flowers in spring, then red-tinged seed heads.
Widespread across southern Australia. Masses of small star-shaped flowers, each petal ending in a fine bristle, cover it in spring. As the flowers age the bases turn red, giving a second show.
In the garden
- Leaves
- Tiny, crowded, aromatic leaves.
- Attracts
- Pollinating insects and butterflies
- Flowers
- Star-shaped white to pink flowers with fine bristles at the tips.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Sandy and loam
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Moderate frost
- Water
- Very drought tolerant
- Climate
- Dry summers (Mediterranean), temperate and cool and alpine
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Cuttings
Planting
Sun or part shade in well-drained soil.
Pruning
Trim by a third after flowering to keep it compact.
Care
Water in long dry spells. No feeding needed.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Order
- Myrtales
- Native to
- New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia
- Natural range
- Heath and woodland across southern and eastern Australia.
Where to buy
Specialist native nurseries.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Calytrix tetragona on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.