Melaleuca Fulgens 'Apricot Delight'

Apricot Honey-myrtle

Botanical Name: Melaleuca fulgens 'Apricot Delight'
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A compact, floriferous apricot honey-myrtle that thrives in Adelaide and South Australian gardens. ‘Apricot Delight’ covers itself in apricot–coral bottlebrush flowers from late winter into spring, with occasional follow-up in early summer. Tough once established, it handles heat, poor soils and sheltered coastal conditions, giving long, low-care colour and native habitat value.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1–2 m H × 1–1.5 m W (medium, tidy shrub; size varies with site)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Soft mid-green to grey-green, narrow leaves; new growth brighter lime-green, ageing deeper; in hot sun/dry spells foliage may read olive-green—lightly aromatic when crushed
• Flowers: Apricot–orange bottlebrushes mainly late winter–spring (Aug–Nov), attracting nectar feeders; light, sweet scent up close
• Seasonal Interest: Late-winter colour → spring peak bloom → summer seedheads and papery, pale bark for texture through winter
• Wildlife Value: Attracts native bees and other pollinators; nectar also draws honeyeater birds
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Frost Hardy (light–moderate), Coastal-Tolerant in second-line/sheltered sites; suits loam to clay if well-drained
• Planting Density: Shrub borders: 1 plant per metre for a dense line, or 1 per 1.5 m for a looser effect
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun)
• Soil: Well-drained sandy/loam/clay; avoid chronic waterlogging.
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry.
• Maintenance: Light prune after flowering to keep compact; tip-prune young plants; mulch in spring; native-safe feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-25+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including sheltered coastal Adelaide sites
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates slight alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Privacy screening and informal native hedges with a refined finish
• Mass plant on banks or verges for a drought-smart, pollinator-friendly display
• Feature near entries, paths and outdoor living spaces; suitable for larger pots

Why You Will Love It

‘Apricot Delight’ brings months of warm apricot colour right when Adelaide gardens need a lift—late winter into spring. It’s water-wise, coastal-capable (sheltered) and low-maintenance, so you get reliable native impact without fuss. With nectar-rich blooms and soft evergreen texture, it’s a smart, resilient choice for South Australian landscapes.