Melaleuca is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
4.5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Melaleuca on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether melaleuca actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score melaleuca against your land's real conditions.
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What Melaleuca is
Melaleuca grows as a perennial. It blooms in spring.
How to grow Melaleuca
Melaleuca grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Melaleuca does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 7, on evenly moist to well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 210 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
poorly (saturated >50% of year), well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
46.4°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
210+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant melaleuca in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Melaleuca prefers pH 4.5 to 7 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune melaleuca to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — melaleuca is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Melaleuca offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Melaleuca thrives
Melaleuca is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Melaleuca growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Melaleuca can grow in these states:
See if Melaleuca will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether melaleuca actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Melaleuca in my zone?
Melaleuca grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Melaleuca?
Most growers plant melaleuca after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 210-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Melaleuca need?
Melaleuca needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Melaleuca need?
Melaleuca prefers soil pH 4.5 to 7, on evenly moist to well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Melaleuca attract pollinators?
Yes — melaleuca's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Melaleuca safe for pets?
Melaleuca is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)