Common name
Common Fringe-Myrtle
Position
Full and filtered sun (Molyneux, Forrester p. 54)
Flower shape and colour
Star shaped, pink, dark pink mauve forms
Form
Medium Shrub (Usually between 1.2m & 3.6m)
Suitability for landscaping
In verges, median streets, parks and reserves. Planted singly as a ornamental in mixed plantings or en-mass as a barrier, wind-break or informal hedge. Attracts nectar eating butterflies. (Botanic Gardens of South Australia, Calytrix tetragona)
Propagation
From cuttings (Wrigley, Fagg p. 299)
Cultivation
Prune after flowering for dense habit. Requires well-drained soils. Paler forms are more vigorous (Botanic Gardens of South Australia, Calytrix tetragona); Wrigley, Fagg p. 299)
Tube stock is available at Native nurseries, notably at the SA State flora nursery (SA State flora catalogue, p. 12)
References | acknowledgements
- Atlas of living Australia 2025, Calytrix tetragona | Common Fringe-Myrtle. Provides information about the spread of the species of Calytrix tetragona shrub across South Australia and other parts of Australia.
- Botanic Gardens of South Australia 2025, Calytrix tetragona | Common Fringe-Myrtle. Provides information about the plant features and uses of the Native shrub: Calytrix tetragona.
- Richter, R 2019, Fringe Myrtle | Calytrix tetragona. Provides information about the featured image used in this theMissingLibrary.com.au page.
- Seeds of South Australia 2025, Calytrix tetragona (Myrtaceae) | Common Fringe-myrtle. Provides detailed information about the distribution of Calytrix tetragona in regional South Australia as well as images of the plant in situ and its seed.