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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. Older plants are a bit more open and with more sparse foliage.
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 often sold with the shortened cultivar name 'Afterdark' or more commonly 'After Dark'.
There are several interpretations for how the name Agonis is derived. One interpretation is that the genus is named from the Greek word 'agonos' which is a combination of 'a' for "not" and 'gonia' for "angle" meaning "without angles" in reference to soft drooping branches of some species while others believe it is from the Greek word 'agon' meaning "a gathering" or "a cluster" in reference to the arrangement of the fruit. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'flexuos' meaning "bending" or "curvy" in reference to the way the branches arch gracefully. For more information about the species see our listing of Agonis flexuosa.
This information about Agonis flexuosa 'Jervis Bay Afterdark' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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