Tea Tree

Tea Tree 'Cardwell' (Leptospermum polygalifolium 'Cardwell') is the weeping native that turns into a waterfall of white blossom in late winter and spring. It holds at roughly 2.5m tall and 2.5m wide, with arching branches and fine soft foliage that moves in any breeze. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, salt tolerant and wind tolerant, it is one of the easier natives to keep alive in a difficult spot.

Why you'll love it

• The flowering is the whole point. The arching stems disappear under small white flowers, and the display runs for weeks.
• A weeping habit, not a blob. The branches arch outward and down, which gives movement and softness that a clipped hedge plant cannot.
• Real food for bees and birds. The blossom is a genuine nectar source, and small birds shelter in the fine inner growth.
• Tough in exposed positions. Frost, drought, salt spray and wind are all handled once the plant is established.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 1m apart for a dense screen. The weeping habit means the base stays furnished, so you get privacy without a hard, formal edge.

Coastal gardens and windy blocks. Salt and wind tolerance suit it to exposed boundaries. A staggered double row at 1m spacing filters wind rather than fighting it.

Small gardens and feature planting. One plant given room to arch is a feature in its own right, and at 2.5m it stays in scale on a courtyard block.

Growing Tea Tree 'Cardwell' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens and is frost hardy once established. Humid wet tropical gardens are the one climate where it disappoints, thinning out rather than filling.

Soil. Free draining and slightly acidic. It will not sit in wet ground, so on clay plant on a raised mound with compost through the bed, and mulch 75mm deep kept off the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper as the roots go down. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser after flowering. High phosphorus garden fertilisers can damage the roots.

Pruning. Trim lightly straight after flowering to keep the shape full and encourage next season's buds. Keep cuts within leafy growth, because tea trees are slow to reshoot from bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: tube, 140mm in packs of ten and 200mm in packs of six. Tube plants are young single stems and the practical choice for a long boundary, since they establish fast and catch up within two seasons. The 140mm and 200mm plants arrive branched and start weeping sooner.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a quiet fortnight after planting, then new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather, and a first real flowering in the second season. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the leptospermum care guide for pruning and feeding detail.
• See more bee and butterfly attracting plants.
• Browse compact options in plants for small gardens.
• Compare other plants for windbreaks.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. Any tighter and the arching branches crowd each other, which spoils the weeping shape you bought it for.

When does it flower?

Late winter into spring, with the heaviest display on plants in full sun. Established plants flower more reliably from their second or third season.

Can I clip it into a formal hedge?

You can trim it to a rough shape, but it is the wrong plant for a sharp formal hedge. Cutting hard enough to hold a flat face removes the arching growth and most of the flowers.

Will it cope with frost?

Yes, once the roots are away, usually after a full growing season. Give young plants shelter through their first winter in cold districts.