Kunzea ambigua [Myrtaceae]; Tick BushThe name ‘tick bush’ does this plant a disservice. It immediately associates the plant with one of the most universally despised arthropods. In fact, the plant is not a host or habitat for ticks; rather its common name refers to its purported capability to deter them. Although more common in Sydney’s ‘sand country’ (particularly heaths and dry sclerophyll communities) it also grows in clay, making it an adaptable plant for many locations.
In spring the plants flowers emerge, sometimes sparsely and sometimes erupting in a froth of white stamens. The nectar and pollen provides food for a range of insects including jewel, scarab and flower beetles, and a range of bee, fly and wasp species. The life strategy of this species could be described as a ‘reseeder’: individuals do not typically survive fire, instead relying on regeneration from seed. Though the leaf size and colour of this species could make for a somewhat drab appearance, this is countered by its multi-stemmed form and arching stems that give it a particularly expressive personality. We should see this species more in plantings, both for its ecological and aesthetic value.