Melaleuca decussata is commonly known as 'totem poles' in Victoria, but if you cross over into South Australia, where it also occurs naturally, it will most likely be known commonly as 'cross leaved honey myrtle'

Totem poles or cross leaved honey myrtle is typically a medium shrub 2 - 3 metres but sometimes a little larger. It tends to be rather upright and of good form. Adaptable to either wet or dry planting sites but does prefer full sun so that it does not tend to go woody.

Melaleuca decussata self-seeds quite readily making it ideal for hedging and shelter belts. It is a very reliable plant in cultivation.

Totem poles has grey foliage and small purple bottle brush flowers in Spring

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Notes on Maps.

Generally, the concentrated clusters of markers represent the geographical range where this species occurs naturally. Outlying markers and geographically disassociated markers represent observations of the species in cultivation and/or recorded in herbaria etc.
 

Acknowledgment.

These maps are provided by, and are used with the permission of,  Australia’s Virtual Herbarium (AVH)