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Melicytus dentatus (Tree Violet) - An evergreen dense growing shrub or small tree to 15-20 feet tall with small dark green narrow leaves that have slightly dentated margins. In spring appear the pale yellow small bell-shaped flowers that are strongly daphne-scented.
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Tolerant of most soils, including alkaline, sandy or clay, so long as they are well-draining. Tolerant of moderate frosts down to at least 18° F, though new young foliage might be nipped back. This is a very tough plant that can be used as a hedge, screen or trained up as a small tree and then it is compared in appearance to a small olive. The spring flowers can perfume a garden and are so strong that some caution putting it too close to living areas.
Melicytus dentatus grows native in open forests and woodlands in southeastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales south to northeastern and southwestern Victoria. The name for the genus roughly translates to “honey basket from the Greek words 'meli' meaning "honey" and 'kytos' meaning a "container" or a "jar" in reference to the tiny, nectar-filled flowers. This Australian plant has long been called Hymenanthera dentata and was described under this name in 1818. The etymology of this name is from the Greek word 'hymen' meaning a "membrane" and 'antheros' meaning "flowering" that in Latin lead to 'anthra' meaning an "anther" and for this plant is a reference to the membranous appendages of the anthers. Though not widely accepted early on, this species was merged In 1970 with the New Zealand species of Melicytus, whose type species was described in 1775, so this older genus name took priority.
We first received this very interesting plant (as Hymenanthera dentata) in 2019 from Jo O'Connell of Australian Native Plant Nursery, who showed us her nice specimen small tree after we asked what that lovely smell was that perfumed her garden. Our plants are all cuttings from this small tree. The Australian Native Plant Nursery also has a second specimen not trained up that screens her home from the nearby highway.
The information displayed on this page about Melicytus dentatus is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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