Tea Tree

Tea tree 'Aphrodite' (Leptospermum scoparium 'Aphrodite') is a compact flowering native that settles at about 1.5m tall and 1.2m wide, in scale with a suburban border. Through the cooler months it smothers its fine foliage in small pink to red flowers, and honeyeaters work it over for weeks. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and content in poor soil, which is an unusual combination in a shrub that flowers this heavily.

Why you'll love it

• Flowering when the garden is quiet. Pink and red blooms come on thick in the cooler half of the year, filling the gap before the spring flush.
• Genuine cold tolerance. Frost hardy rather than frost tender, so it suits cool temperate districts as readily as warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens.
• It asks for very little. Drought tolerant and happy in poor, gravelly or sandy ground. Once the roots are down it wants neither feeding nor babying.
• Real wildlife value. Nectar rich flowers draw honeyeaters, native bees and butterflies into gardens too small for a large native tree.

Where it works best

Informal hedging and borders. Plant 1m apart for a soft hedge that reads as a flowering wall rather than a clipped block. At 1.5m it screens a low fence without shading the bed behind it.

Coastal gardens. A wiry, wind resistant frame and real salt tolerance make it a sound choice near the beach, where softer shrubs brown off on the windward side.

Pots and feature planting. A 400mm pot with sharp drainage holds it for years, and a single plant beside a path shows the flowers off well.

Growing tea tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always: shade thins the growth and halves the flowering. It performs from cool temperate through warm temperate and subtropical gardens, and suits Mediterranean climates in South Australia and Western Australia. In the wet tropics the humidity is against it, so far northern gardeners should choose a local species.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. It thrives in poor sandy or gravelly ground and dislikes heavy wet clay, so plant on a raised mound and mulch 75mm deep, kept off the stem.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. A low phosphorus native food in early spring is enough. Rich general purpose feeds do more harm than good.

Pruning. Trim lightly straight after flowering, taking no more than a third of the new growth. Tea trees shoot poorly from bare old wood, so a light annual trim beats a hard cut back later.

What to expect when it arrives

This selection is grown as tube stock, so plants arrive young, single stemmed and roughly 15cm to 25cm tall. You are buying a season of patience for the best value per plant, which is why tubes suit a border or hedge run rather than an instant feature. Roots are young and undisturbed, so establishment is quick: new growth inside six to eight weeks in warm weather, and worthwhile flowering in the second season.

Plants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Leptospermum care guide: planting, pruning and flowering
• Browse the full range of Australian native shrubs
• Plants that handle salt wind and coastal exposure

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row gives a dense informal hedge by the second or third season. Closer spacing crowds the roots and sends the base woody sooner.

Will it survive frost?

Yes. The species is frost hardy and grows well in cool temperate districts, including the tablelands and inland southern gardens. Young tubes are the exception, so plant in early spring and shelter them through the first winter.

Why do tea trees suddenly die?

Almost always wet feet. They take drought, poor soil and salt in their stride, but waterlogged clay kills them quickly. Plant high and resist watering an established plant in winter.