Family:
Myrtaceae
Kunzea ericoides
Burgan
(syn. Leptospermum phylicoides)
Other Names:
Name Origin:
Kunzea — after Dr Gustav Kunze (1793-1851), professor of medicine and botany, Leipzig.
ericoides — Erica-like foliage (the Old World heaths).
Regional Subspecies:
Occurrence:
Regional:
Mainly east of the Hume Highway in the Murray region. Also around Holbrook district.
Australia:
Qld, NSW, Vic, SA.
Habitat:
Heath and sclerophyll forest, common at higher elevations, often along watercourses.
Habit:
Tall shrub or small tree to 5 m high. Dense or open foliage.
Site Preference:
Valley slopes, dry ridges and streambanks. Tolerates frost, wet and dry conditions.
Characteristics:
Fast-growing.
Flowering:
White, spring-summer.
Seed Collection:
Jan-Apr. Monitor closely as seeds released soon after maturity.
Propagation:
From seed, which germinates readily, or cuttings of young wood.
Regeneration:
From seed, shed annually, and coppice after fire. Quickly colonises bare areas.
VALUES:
Shade & Shelter:
Excellent fast-growing low-level cover in windbreaks.
Land Protection:
Useful in controlling streambank and gully erosion due to soil-binding fibrous roots.
Wildlife:
Excellent habitat. Dense foliage excellent refuge for small birds. Flowers are a good nectar source for honeyeaters and native insects, including moths and butterflies. Insect-eating birds attracted.
First Nations:
Kangaroo spears, fighting sticks, waddys and fighting boomerangs made from wood.
Ornamental:
Specimen ornamental for screening, hedges and bog gardens. Attractive background foliage and conspicuous summer flowers. Responds to hard pruning and slow-release fertilisers.