Common name - tea-tree (early Australian settlers boiled the leaves as a tea substitute, apparently).

Most of the 86 recognized species originate in Australia, with a few coming from SE Asia, New Guinea and New Zealand.

Some varieties are frost-hardy, but the majority are suitable for temperate to sub-tropical climates only.

Leptospermum scoparium
Cultivars include Rouge double nain (main)

Compact shrub up to 2 m high. Leaves may be elliptical, broadly lanceolate or obovate
and from 8mm to 20mm long. Usually white flowers but sometimes pink or even dark pink to maroon 1 cm in diameter occur in spring and early summer.

From east coast Australia and Tasmania, and New Zealand. Frost hardy.
 
 

 
• Leptospermum by Murray Fagg
 
 

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