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. Dig in plenty of compost before planting, water in well, and mulch to keep roots cool. For a screen, space plants about 1.8 m apart.
Watering & feeding
Tick Bush is happy on low water, so once its roots are down it needs little supplementary water. As an Australian native, feed it only with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser. In its first year, water deeply once or twice a week to settle the roots in, then taper off as it establishes.
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. Overall it 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
For a cohesive, low-care bed, pair Tick Bush with other plants that enjoy the same happy on low water and warm-temperate climate. Group three or five together for impact rather than dotting single plants through the garden. 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. Stock isn't live yet — register your interest using the panel above and we'll email you the moment it lands.