Melaleuca

( meh - luh - LOO - kuh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering evergreen shrubs and trees includes species native to Australia that need full sun and little water to perform well in the garden. They are commonly called Paperbark, Honey-Myrtle or Tea Tree. The flowers will draw birds and other pollinators into the garden. Leaves are narrow and needle-like and clustered flowers have prominent stamens. Woody seed capsules follow flowers. Many species have beautifully contorted branches and peeling bark. They make great screening plants and larger species do well as shade trees. Use Tea Tree as street or specimen trees or in xeriscape areas of the garden.

Melaleuca Species and Varietals

The genus Melaleuca is a member of the plant family Myrtaceae and includes around 300 distinct speices. Plants in this genus are related to those in Callistemon (Bottlebrush), Leptospermum (Tea Tree) and Eucalyptus. Melaleuca growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Melaleuca armillaris (Drooping Melaleuca, Bracelet Honey Myrtle, Cream Paperbark, Giant Honey-Myrtle)
This species takes the form of either a shrub or a tree and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2. As a shrub, it has a sprawling habit and reaches 12-25 feet tall and 15-30 feet wide. As a tree, it reaches 15-30 feet tall and wide. This species has drooping branches, hence the common name, and grey peeling bark. Leaves are light green and flowers are fluffy and white, blooming spring through fall. Great as a clipped hedge or informal screen. It also makes a great barrier plant; leaves are spiky. This species is considered invasive in Australia (outside its native range), South Africa, and Florida (United States).

Melaleuca decussata (Lilac Melaleuca, Cross-Leaved Honey Myrtle, Cross-Leaf Honey Myrtle, Totem Poles)
This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 9, 12-24 and H1 and can be grown as a shrub or tree. These plants reach 8-20 feet tall and wide and have brown bark. Leaves are green-blue and flowers are lilac to purple. They bloom from late spring through summertime. Mass for foliage in the garden. Thin plants to show off their unique branching structure. This species is considered invasive in regions of Victoria (Australia) where it is not native.

Melaleuca hypericifolia (Dotted Melaleuca, Hillock Bush, Honey-Myrtle, Red-Flowering Paperbark, Hillock Honey Myrtle)
This species takes the form of a shrub, reaching 6-12 feet tall and 3-12 feet wide with thin, peeling grey bark. Dotted Melaleuca grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 or Sunset growing zones 9, 12-24 and H1. Flowers pop late spring through winter and are bright red, appearing in clusters. Leaves are copper-green to dull green. Can be hedged, but performs best as an informal, unclipped screening plant. This species is considered invasive in South Africa and Victoria, Australia.

Melaleuca incana (Gray Honey Myrtle, Grey-Leaved Honey Myrtle)
This species can take the form of a shrub or a tree, and has a spreading, arching habit. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11 or Sunset climate zones 8, 9 and 12-24. Foliage is furry and grey and flowers are yellow-white, blooming in springtime. Can be shaped into a small tree, but naturally grows as a sprawling shrub to 6 to 10 feet tall and just as wide at maturity.

Melaleuca linariifolia (Flaxleaf Paperbark, Snow-In-Summer, Narrow-Leaved Paperbark, Budjur)
This species is a tree that grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 9, 13-24 and H1. It reaches 20-30 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide, and has whitish bark. Leaves are bright green to bluish-green and stiff. Flowers form in spikes and are white; younger plants need staking until established. Cultivars include 'Claret Tops' (dwarf to 5 feet tall and wide with red new foliage and cream flowers), 'Snowstorm' (to 5 feet tall with bushy foliage and white flowers), 'Sea Foam' (to 8 feet tall with white flowers), and 'Little Red' (with bright red new growth).

Melaleuca nesophila (Pink Melaleuca, Showy Honey-Myrtle, Western Tea Myrtle, Purple Paper Bark)
This species can be a tree or a shrub, and is best in zones 13, 16-24, and H1. Reaches 15-20 feet in a short amount of time; Branches are gnarled and heavy, and leaves are bark is grey-cream to pale brown in color. Flower clusters are mauve-pink and fade to white. Great as a tree or large, informal screen. Can tolerate rocky, poor soil and desert heat. Needs little to regular water. This species is considered invasive in parts of Victoria, Australia.

Melaleuca styphelloides (Prickly Paperback, Prickly-Leaved Paperbark)
This species grows as a tree 20-40 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 9, 13-24 and H1 and has an upright, open habit. Bark is spongy, pale tan (aging to charcoal) and peels off in layers. Leaves are light green and flowers are creamy white. Great in any soil and resistant to oak root fungus. Great as a multiple-trunked lawn tree. This species is invasive in South Africa, New Zealand, and the Hawaiian Islands.

Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cajeput Tree, Paperbark Tree, Punk Tree, Broad-Leaved Paperbark)
This species of tree grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 9, 12, 13. 15-17, 20-24, H1 and H2. It has an open growth habit reaching 20-40 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. Bark is spongy, light brown, and peels off in sheets. Leaves are pale green and turns purple in frost temperatures. Summer to fall flowers are yellow-white (though pink and purple varieties are available), and this plant makes a great street tree. These trees are considered highly invasive in Florida and Hawai'i (United States).​

Melaleuca thymifolia (Thymeleaf Melaleuca, Thyme Honey-Myrtle, Thyme-Leaved Honey-Myrtle)
This species takes the form of a shrub and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 8, 9 and 12-24. It has a spreading habit, reaching just 4-8 feet wide and 2-4 feet tall at maturity. Bark is corky and grey-brown and leaves are blue-green and fragrant when crushed. Flowers appear spring through summer in clusters of white, pink, deep mauve, or dusky purple. Likes acidic soil but can tolerate many different soils. Prune after flowering to keep the plant compact. Can handle occasional drought but performs best with regular water.

Melaleuca wilsonii (Violet Honey Myrtle, Wilson's Honey-Myrtle)
This species is best in USDA hardiness zones 9a-11 or Sunset growing zones 8, 9, and 12-24. It reaches 3-10 feet tall and 5-12 feet wide with a spreading or arching habit. Leaves are narrow and dark green, flowers are pinkish-purple. Can be pruned as a hedge, and there is a low-growing variety that makes a great groundcover. Can handle hard frosts and flooding, as well as extended dry spells. Looks best with regular waterings.

Caring for Melaleuca

Melaleuca, or Tea Tree, plants are typically purchased as specimens from a reputable nursery. Most are either grown from seed or cuttings, and are typically not grafted. These plants should be installed in a space that receives full sun; ideally, between 6 and 8 hours each day. They can take late afternoon shade in warmer climates. Space shrubs 3-5 feet apart for a dense hedge. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 4.5 and 7.0 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly for their first year in the ground. Once established, Melaleuca shrubs and trees are highly drought tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone with deep waterings during extended periods of drought.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning should be done immediately after its primary spring flowering to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth, and promote the following year's blooms. Avoid cutting into old, bare wood as it will most likely not re-sprout. These shrubs can be thinned out to create a more attractive habit, but otherwise leave them alone as far as pruning is concerned. They have an attractive natural habit. Melaleuca trees and shrubs are long-lived, surviving in the landscape for 20 to 100 years or more if cared for properly.

Propagation

​Melaleuca can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Melaleuca by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.
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Propagating Melaleuca by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. Harvest your seeds. Once the seed pods have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Melaleuca seeds capsules can hold between 200 and 300 seeds.
Melaleuca seeds are tiny, glossy and brown.

Problems and Pests

Certain species of Melaleuca (Tea Tree) are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Melaleuca shrubs are generally resistant to pests and disease. For information on commonly-encountered pests and diseases in the landscape, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

Plant these shrubs in mixed beds along entry areas where their flowers can be admired.
These shrubs vary in foliage and flower color, and can pair well with many other plants.
The grey foliage and branches of Melaleuca incana, or Grey Honey Myrtle, stand out well against a green backdrop.

Videos

How to prune and harvest Lemon Tea Tree.

Resources

Wikipedia: List of Melaleuca Species
How to Plant, Grow and Care for Melaleuca quinquenervia
Wikipedia: Melaleuca
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 438 - 440, Melaleuca