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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Myricaceae (Bayberries) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' (Dwarf Peppermint Tree) This evergreen shrub is a compact form of the Peppermint Tree (Agonis flexuosa) that grows 4 to 6 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide with attractive bright green leaves and red new growth. Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. It is moderately drought tolerant along the coast once established but is more lush with occasional deep irrigation. Hardy to around 25 F. This plant makes a great small-scale screen, hedge, specimen plant, both in the ground or in a container, that grows well along the coast or in more inland gardens. We originally listed this to around 4 feet tall but were informed by Kathy Musial that the oldest plants at the Huntington Botanic Gardens were now approaching 6 feet tall. Like the species the leaves have a distinct peppermint aroma when crushed and clusters of small white flowers with pink petal bases appear in May to June. There are several interpretations for how the name Agonis is derived. One interpretation is that the genus is named from the Greek word 'agonos' which is a combination of 'a' for "not" and 'gonia' for "angle" meaning "without angles" in reference to soft drooping branches of some species while others believe it is from the Greek word 'agon' meaning "a gathering" or "a cluster" in reference to the arrangement of the fruit. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'flexuos' meaning "bending" or "curvy" in reference to the way the branches arch gracefully. It is commonly called Dwarf Willow Myrtle or Dwarf Peppermint Tree. In 1989 while touring the area around Perth in Western Australian this plant was noticed in many landscapes. It is believed to originally been imported into the US by Kathy Musial at the Huntington Botanic Gardens but we got our orignal plants from Jo O'Connell of Australian Native Plant Nursery. There are splendid examples of this plant growing at Seaside Gardens, in Carpinteria in a garden area designed by Jo O'Connell.
The information about Agonis flexuosa 'Nana' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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