A soft, arching shrub with fine aromatic foliage smothered in fluffy honey-scented white flowers in late spring that hum with bees and insects. A fast, hardy screen for coastal sites.
At a glance
- Plant type: Shrub
- Mature size: 3 m H × 3 m W
- Aspect: full sun and part shade or morning sun
- Water: happy on low water
- Frost: hardy
- Maintenance: low maintenance
- Origin: Australian native
About Tick Bush
Kunzea ambigua is a fast-growing shrub in the Myrtaceae family, native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It reaches around 3 m tall and 3 m wide at maturity, with evergreen and aromatic foliage. White and cream green flowers appear in spring and summer.
Where to grow Tick Bush
Tick Bush suits warm-temperate, cool-temperate and subtropical climates and grows best in full sun and part shade or morning sun. It is frost hardy and shrugs off cold winters. It also tolerates salt-laden coastal winds and is a genuinely water-wise choice.
Soil & planting
Tick Bush does best in sandy, free-draining and loamy soil. Plant into well-prepared ground, firm the soil around the roots and water deeply to settle it in. For a screen, space plants about 1.8 m apart.
Watering & feeding
Tick Bush performs well with relatively little water once established. As an Australian native, feed it only with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser. New plantings need closer moisture checks in hot or windy weather, with watering tapered once strong new growth appears.
Pruning & care
Prune Tick Bush after flowering to keep it compact and encourage the next flush of blooms. It clips well, so trim two or three times a year for a formal finish. Its ongoing care level is low maintenance.
Using Tick Bush in the garden
Tick Bush earns its place for a fast screen or informal hedge, feeding bees and pollinators, its fragrance and drawing nectar-feeding birds into the garden.
Companion planting & design
Build the planting around neighbours suited to the same happy on low water and warm-temperate climate as Tick Bush. Repeating the foliage or flower colour nearby will make the composition feel deliberate. It combines naturally with other Australian natives in a habitat or water-wise garden.
Buying Tick Bush
Plant Sale lists Tick Bush as tube stock and potted plants. Use the interest form above to check current sizes, pricing and availability before ordering.
