Melaleuca alternifolia
tea tree
Northeastern Australia (northern NSW, southern Queensland)
Overview
Melaleuca alternifolia is an evergreen large shrub or small tree in the Myrtaceae family, growing 13-23 feet (4-7 m) tall and 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) wide, with a bushy crown and white to pale, papery bark that peels in layers. The leaves are narrow, soft, and aromatic, 0.4-1.4 inches (1-3.5 cm) long, releasing a sharp medicinal scent when crushed; they are the commercial source of tea tree oil, distilled for its terpinen-4-ol content. Creamy-white bottlebrush flower spikes 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) long open in spring and early summer, followed by small woody capsules that cluster along the stems. It is native to low-lying, seasonally wet ground in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland and tolerates waterlogged and boggy soils that many shrubs cannot. It is moderately frost tender, damaged below about 25F (-4C). Growth is fast, and the bark and foliage are flammable, a consideration in fire-prone settings. Plants are grown in plantations and harvested by coppicing for oil production.
Native Range
Melaleuca alternifolia is native to northeastern Australia, in low-lying and seasonally flooded ground of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. It grows along watercourses and on swampy flats.Suggested Uses
Grown as a screening tree, windbreak, and rain-garden or pond-edge plant for wet ground, spaced 8-12 feet (2.4-3.7 m) apart. It suits damp and periodically flooded sites where drainage is poor. It is also grown in plantations for tea tree oil.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height13'1" - 23'
Width/Spread9'10" - 14'9"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light part shade in moist to wet soil and tolerates seasonal waterlogging that most shrubs cannot. It accepts a wide pH range from 5.0 to 7.5 and a range of soil textures. Water needs are medium to high, and growth slows under prolonged drought. It is moderately frost tender, with damage below about 25F (-4C). The plant regrows readily after coppicing, which is how oil-production stands are managed.Pruning
It tolerates hard pruning and coppicing close to the ground, regrowing quickly from the base. Light trimming shapes young plants into a single-trunked tree or a multi-stemmed screen. Pruning is done after flowering.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer