Leptospermum laevigatum
Australian Tea Tree
Description
This tree can be grown as solitary specimen to show exfoliating or smooth, gray-brown trunks that twist and curve with age. It is also a shrub and is useful as a windbreak, screen, or clipped hedge. This plant does best in full or part sun with well draining, sandy or loam soil. It does well in coastal areas. Deer usually leave it alone but birds and bees love this plant. It can easily reach 30' tall and wide, with a weeping habit and low canopy. During spring, the tree is covered with attractive white flowers followed by brown fruit in fall. Leaves are evergreen, oval, blue green or silver or gray green. Considered invasive in Hawaii. Seeds are spread via wind, vehicles, soil movement, water and dumped garden waste. Potentially invasive in California. Do not plant if you live adjacent to a channel.