Melaleuca bracteata
Revolution Gold, Golden Honey Myrtle, Johannesburg Gold
Affectionately known as ‘Johannesburg Gold’ by most gardeners, this has to be the most used shrub in South African gardens over the last twenty or so years. Ironically it originates from Australia and that is largely why it has coped with our local climate so well – many golden foliage plants tend to burn in our harsh summer sunshine.
The plant is so well known that little more needs to be written about it, save to say that every suburb is dominated by splashes of its rich golden yellow all year round. Hardy in all but the coldest and driest parts of our land, it is good for hedging, as specimen shrubs or small trees, as clipped topiaries or standards – the list of practical uses is simply endless.