White Paperbark Melaleuca

The White Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) is the tree to plant where nothing else will hold: wet ground, salt wind, heavy summer humidity. It is an east coast Australian native that reaches around 10m tall and 5m wide in a garden, with layered cream bark and bottlebrush flowers that bring lorikeets and bees. It grows fast and tolerates ground that stays damp for weeks after rain.

Why you'll love it

• It handles wet feet. Low corners, swales and ground that puddles after storms suit it, which is rare in a tree of this size.
• Coastal proof. Salt and wind tolerant, so it works on exposed beachside blocks and along fence lines that catch the weather.
• Bark worth looking at. Papery cream layers build up on the trunk, giving year round interest between flowering flushes.
• Wildlife lands on it. Cream bottlebrush flowers are heavy with nectar and pull in honeyeaters, lorikeets and native bees.

Where it works best

Screening and windbreaks. Plant 3m apart for a tall screen, or in a double staggered row at 3m to filter wind across an open block rather than block it dead.

Shade and boundaries. A single tree gives light shade over a lawn within a few years, with a canopy high enough to mow beneath.

Coastal and damp gardens. Use it along creek lines, on the low side of a block, or as a first line of defence on a salt exposed boundary.

Growing the White Paperbark in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It belongs to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens along the eastern seaboard and north, and it takes light frost only, so cold inland and southern districts are not suitable. Give it room: at 5m wide it is not a small courtyard tree.

Soil. Almost anything, from sandy coastal soils to clay and ground that holds water. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water twice weekly through the first summer, after which established trees look after themselves in most seasons. A native fertiliser low in phosphorus in early spring is all it needs.

Pruning. Prune after flowering. Lift the lower limbs over the first few years for a clean trunk, or trim the leader early if you want a bushier, lower screen instead of a shade tree.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in seven sizes. The 140mm packs of 10 and 200mm packs of 6 are the value option for a long windbreak, and they establish quickly. The 300mm plants suit a single garden position, while the 30L, 45L, 100L and 200L trees arrive with real trunk and height already on them.

Trees are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet month after planting, then fast growth through the warm season. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Paperbark trees: identification and care for the wider group.
• Compare the full melaleuca range, from small shrubs to trees.
• See other windbreak plants for exposed blocks.
• Browse Australian native trees for a shade position.

Common questions

How big does it get?

Around 10m tall and 5m wide in a home garden. In coastal swamp forest it can reach 20m, but garden soil and root space keep it well short of that.

How far from the house should I plant it?

Allow at least 5m from a building and keep it away from shallow pipes. It is fast growing with a spreading root system, and suits a larger block.

Will it cope with frost?

Light frost only. It is reliable through the warm coastal east and north, and unsuitable where hard winter frosts are normal.

Is it messy?

It sheds bark and spent flowers, so it is not the tree for a pool surround or a formal paved courtyard. Over lawn or garden bed the litter simply breaks down.