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.