MELALEUCA eximia

An erect shrub with leaf blade subulate linear foliage and produces a magnificent display of short bright red bottlebrush flowers that typically occurs in October to November or sometime in June.
Occurs naturally in a few isolated areas in the regions of the Esperance Plains and Mallee in Western Australia.

Conservation Code: Priority 2 Poorly-known species.
Species that are known from one or a few locations (generally five or less), some of which are on lands managed primarily for nature conservation, e.g. national parks, conservation parks, nature reserves and other lands with secure tenure being managed for conservation. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more locations but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and appear to be under threat from known threatening processes. Such species are in urgent need of further survey.

Adaptable to most spoils in an open sunny position, drought, and frost-resistant.

Grow notes:

Seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C

1. Sow on the surface of the growing mix.
2. Press lightly into the surface. Do not bury the seed.
3. Keep warm & moist, and avoid drying out or waterlogging the growing mix.
4. Germination generally occurs in around 14-28 days in the right condition.

The seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, natives will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.