Australian Native Plants

  Hakea myrtoides (Myrtle hakea)


Hakea myrtoides photo
Hakea myrtoides, Mt Annan Botanic Gardens

Photograph by Cas Liber. License: Public Domain.    (view image details)




MYRTLE HAKEA FACTS

distribution map showing range of Hakea myrtoides in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Myrtle hakea

Description
The Myrtle Hakea is a small spreading lignotuberous shrub with small elliptical leaves about 2cm long, with sharp points at the tips. The leaves are alternate and 7mm to 24mm long, and 3mm to 10mm wide. The flowers grow on the stems from the leaf axils near the ends of branches. The plant produces profuse clusters of pink, pale pink or reddish pink flowers in winter and early spring. The fruits are small, egg-shaped woody pods just under 1cm in diameter. The pods contain 2 winged seeds in common with most Hakeas.

Habitat
grows amongst eucalypt woodland and shrubland in gravelly soil or loam

Distribution
Western Australia

Growth Characteristics
Height: 0.2m - 0.5m
Spread: 0.6m - 1.5m

Propagation
Hakea myrtoides may be grown from seed without any pre-treatment but seed is not often available. The species can also be grown from cuttings but these may not be particularly easy to strike. Grafting of the species onto the eastern species H.salicifolia has proved to be very successful and has enabled the plant to be grown in previously unsuitable areas. Grafted plants may sometimes be available from specialist Australian plant nurseries in eastern Australia.

Wildlife Interest
attracts honeyeaters

Classification
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Proteales
Family:Proteaceae
Genus:Hakea
Species:myrtoides
Common Name:Myrtle hakea


Relatives in same Genus
  Hakea archaeoides
  Hakea bakeriana
  Hakea bucculenta
  Hakea decurrens
  Hakea drupacea
  Hakea oleifolia
  Hakea petiolaris
  Hakea plurinervia
  Hakea scoparia
  Hakea teretifolia