Family: Myrtaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Melaleuca incana var. prostrata (prostrate gray honey myrtle) is a low-growing, spreading form of a shrub native to southwestern Australia. In its natural range, it typically grows in sandy or well-drained soils in coastal and near-coastal habitats. This plant is known for its soft, gray-green foliage and attractive bottlebrush-like clusters of pale flowers that can provide seasonal color and nectar for pollinators. It is sometimes used in ornamental landscaping, especially in rock gardens, coastal plantings, and as a ground cover where a hardy, drought-tolerant shrub is desired.

Risks & Threats
This species is not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands and is considered to have a low risk of becoming invasive based on its current behavior and available information. While some members of the Melaleuca genus can be aggressive in certain environments, this prostrate variety has not shown tendencies toward rapid spread or ecosystem disruption. However, as with any non-native plant, ongoing monitoring is still important to ensure it does not escape cultivation or negatively interact with local ecosystems over time.

High Risk Traits:

• Congeneric weed (e.g., M. quinquenervia is highly invasive)
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including saline and waterlogged
  
• Forms dense thickets in native range
  
• Shade tolerant (sun or partial sun)
  
• Propagules dispersed intentionally by people (ornamental use)
  
• Tolerates mutilation, pruning, and cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of naturalization, or weediness
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No evidence of toxicity
  
• No evidence of vegetative fragmentation
  
• No evidence of unintentional dispersal (produce contaminant, animal attachment, or gut passage)