Australian Tea Tree

Moderate-growing evergreen shrub or small tree to 20 to 30 feet tall and wide. This tough and versatile species can be grown as a large clipped hedge or trimmed to develop a single or multi-trunked tree. As a shrub this species forms a large rounded mound of pendulous olive-green to grey-green foliage accented with an abundance of showy star-shaped white flowers that appear in spring. In its popular tree form this species exhibits its picturesque twisting trunk and branches that lend a naturally sculptured appearance to the landscape. With age these trunks can become quite large up to 1-2’ wide at their base. Adding further appeal is the interesting shedding bark in tones of gray and brown. Well-suited for inland to direct coastal climates (even tolerating sea-spray) this species is useful as a background large clipped hedge courtyard or container specimen. Requires a well-drained soil and little water once established and prefers a full sun exposure.