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Products > Agonis flexuosa 'Jervis Bay Afterdark'   Agonis flexuosa 'Jervis Bay Afterdark' - After Dark Peppermint Tree    [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Tree Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles) Origin: Australia (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Red/Purple Foliage: Yes Flower Color: White Bloomtime: Spring/Summer Fragrant Flowers: Yes Synonyms: [A. 'Jervis Bay', A. Jervis Bay After Dark'] Height: 15-25 feet Width: 10-15 feet Exposure: Full Sun Seaside: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F Agonis flexuosa 'Jervis Bay Afterdark' (After Dark Peppermint Tree) - A selection of the West Australian willow myrtle that grows to around 18 feet tall by 10-15 feet wide with a weeping habit. It has brilliant scarlet colored new growth in spring that darkens to dark burgundy. It is slower growing and has narrower leaves than is typical for the species but has the same small white flowers with burgundy centers that appear in clusters from spring into early summer. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil with regular to occasional watering - moderately drought tolerant along the coast once established but is more lush with occasional deep irrigation. Frost hardiness, although not well documented, seems to be similar to the species with some tip damage possible below 28° F and stem damage at temperatures between 20-25° F. In the January 2007 cold spell that hit California we had foliage and young tip damage at 26° F but plants rebounded completely. Tolerates windy and seaside conditions. Makes a nice hedge or good container plant and benefits from regular pruning to keep dense. The name Jervis Bay in the cultivar name is a little deceiving as this location is on the south coast of New South Wales while Agonis flexuosa is a plant native to Western Australia but the name honors the nursery where this dark foliaged selection was made. This plant was selected in 1985 as a spontaneous seedling mutation in a flat of Agonis flexuosa grown by R and M L Turner at Jervis Bay Nurseries that was made so famous by the Bush Gem Series of Kangaroo Paws. This plant subsequently was described in 1998 in the "Plant Varieties Journal" and issued Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) status in 1997 on the application of James and Jaqueline Koppman of Huskisson, New South Wales. This plant is also sold with the shortened cultivar name 'Afterdark' or more commonly 'After Dark'.  The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.     [MORE INFO]