QUESTION
I recently saw a photograph on your Instagram posting of a red-flowering paperback. It was very attractive. Any details, please?
Robert L. Port Macquarie, NSW
ANSWER
I saw this tree in a specialist native garden on the NSW South Coast in winter. It is called Melaleuca viridiflora, but instead of green flowers (hence the Latin term, ‘viridis’) it has stunning red flowers, so it’s known as M. viridiflora Red Form. The species was first described in 1788 by Daniel Solander, Capt. Cook and Joseph Banks’ companion on the ‘Endeavour’. Flowers are great bee and bird attractants. The only possible source I know for this plant is Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden, NSW.
We hope you have enjoyed this article so far.
One of the many benefits of Garden Clinic membership is full access to our website. Members please log in to view the complete articles.
If you are not a Garden Clinic member and wish to access our website as well as enjoy the many benefits of membership, including access to our Helpline 7 days a week, please visit the link below to join us.