Lemon Scented Tea Tree

Lemon Scented Tea Tree (Leptospermum petersonii) earns its place twice over: once as a fast native screen of about 5m tall and 3m wide, and again every time you brush past it, when the fine foliage releases a sharp, clean lemon scent. White flowers cover the branches in spring, the birds and bees move in, and the whole tree tolerates coastal wind that would burn softer screening plants.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that smells like lemon. The leaves are rich in the oils distilled commercially as lemon scented tea tree oil.
• A fast screen. One of the quicker native trees to reach screening height, putting on real size in its first few seasons.
• Spring flowers that feed the garden. Small white blooms smother the fine branches and draw bees, butterflies and nectar feeding birds.
• Built for the coast. Salt laden wind, sandy soil and dry spells are all within its range once established.
• Takes a hedge cut. It prunes well for a tea tree and holds as a dense tall hedge.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a dense screen that reaches head height quickly and keeps going to about 5m if you let it.

Windbreaks and coastal gardens. Its flexible branches and narrow leaves filter wind rather than fighting it. On exposed blocks, a staggered double row at 1.5m spacing gives real shelter.

Feature planting. Grown as a single tree it develops a light, graceful canopy, ideal near a path or seating area where the scent gets brushed loose.

Growing lemon scented tea tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It thrives from the tropics through the subtropics into warm temperate gardens. It tolerates light frost only, so in colder districts give it a warm sheltered position and protect young plants through their first two winters.

Soil. Free draining soil of almost any type, including the sandy country it grows on naturally in eastern Australia. Avoid winter wet clay unless you mound the bed.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then let it look after itself apart from long droughts. Feed with a controlled release native fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Tip prune young plants to thicken them, then trim after flowering. For a formal hedge, two trims a year hold the line. Avoid cutting back into bare leafless wood, which tea trees are slow to reshoot from.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in six sizes: tubes, a 140mm pack of 10, a 200mm pack of 6, a 250mm pack of 3, single 300mm pots and advanced 45L stock. Tubes are the value pick for a long boundary. The 300mm size arrives with useful height, and 45L trees carry genuine presence from day one.

Expect a quiet week or two after planting, then steady growth through the warm months. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare it with other hedging and screening plants.
• Browse the wider range of Australian natives.
• For a smaller weeping habit, see the Weeping Tea Tree.
• Explore more fragrant plants for scent through the garden.

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

In a warm climate with decent soil and establishment watering, expect around a metre a year for the first few years, slowing as it matures.

What spacing should I use for a screen?

1.5m apart in a single row. Closer does not speed things up; the plants simply compete for the same water and light.

Can I keep it small?

Within reason. Regular trimming after flowering holds it as a dense 3m to 4m hedge. Trying to hold a 5m tree at 2m is a losing battle; choose a smaller tea tree instead.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only. Established trees shrug off an occasional light morning frost, but hard or frequent frosts burn the fine foliage. Cold inland gardens should look elsewhere.