Also known as Tea Tree · 16 saves
Leptospermum
Leptospermum, the genus most gardeners know as tea tree. We track 14 varieties; the ones most used by real gardeners.
The 14 most-saved Leptospermum varieties
7 species of Leptospermum
Each one is a parent of the varieties above.
Track your Leptospermum in Sow
Save the Leptospermum you grow and get care reminders timed to your zone.
How to grow Leptospermum
Whats common across all Leptospermum varieties in our catalog — drawn from the care records of the 14 most-grown of them.
The Leptospermum year
- PruneJune100% of varieties
Tip-prune immediately after flowering to maintain a dense shape and prevent woodiness.
- FertilizeMarch and April100% of varieties
Apply a low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly to support new growth.
- Check for PestsJune–August100% of varieties
Inspect young stems and leaves for webbing caterpillar nests and bright yellow myrtle rust pustules.
- PropagateAugust and September64% of varieties
Take semi-hardwood vegetative cuttings to propagate and retain clonal traits.
- MulchOctober36% of varieties
Replenish organic mulch around the root zone to retain moisture.
Do
- Tip-prune regularly after flowering to maintain a dense, compact habit.
- Ensure the soil is highly permeable to prevent root rot pathogens.
- Use low-phosphorus native fertilisers if supplementary feeding is required.
- Water regularly until established, then transition to a low-water regime.
- Apply a low-phosphorus native-safe fertiliser or blood and bone in spring.
Avoid
- Do not apply heavy doses of high-phosphorus fertilisers.
- Do not prune hard into old, leafless brown wood.
- Do not cut back into old, leafless wood as the plant will fail to shoot.
- Do not allow water to pool around the root zone in heavy clay soils.
What goes wrong with Leptospermum
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Webbing caterpillar | Foliage matted together with silk webbing and accumulated droppings, leading to severe defoliation. | Hand-pick light infestations or apply targeted biological control sprays. |
| Scale insects | Sticky honeydew residue, sooty mould, or visible scale on stems | Spray affected areas with a white oil solution |
| Borers | Dieback or small entry holes in the stems | Maintain plant health through proper watering and drainage, as borers target stressed plants |
| Webbing caterpillars | Foliage bound together with silk webbing and showing chewing damage. | Manually remove and destroy the webs or apply Bacillus thuringiensis. |
| Myrtle rust | Bright yellow-orange pustules on young stems and leaves | Isolate the plant, prune affected parts, and apply registered fungicides according to state guidelines. |
| Phytophthora dieback | Collar rot, sudden wilting, and rapid plant death in poorly drained soils. | Ensure strict well-drained soil conditions and apply preventative phosphite treatments. |
| Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) | Bright yellow-orange powdery pustules on young leaves, stems, and flower buds, causing distorted growth. | Prune out infected material and apply registered fungicides approved for Myrtaceae. |
Making more Leptospermum
Semi-hardwood cuttings
- Take 7-10 cm cuttings of semi-hardwood growth in late summer or autumn.
- Remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem and dip the base in rooting hormone.
- Insert the cuttings into a free-draining propagation mix of perlite and peat.
- Keep the mix moist and place in a warm, humid environment until roots establish.
Vegetative cuttings
- Take semi-hardwood cuttings seven to ten centimetres long in late summer.
- Remove leaves from the lower half of the stem.
- Dip the base in rooting hormone and insert into a well-drained propagating mix.
- Maintain high humidity and bottom heat until roots establish.
Leptospermum questions
How many types of Leptospermum are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 14 distinct Leptospermum varieties. The most popular — ranked by 16 real gardeners — are shown first above.
What zones does Leptospermum grow in?
Across its varieties, Leptospermum covers USDA Zones 8–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Leptospermum bloom?
Most Leptospermum varieties bloom in spring, mid spring, late spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Leptospermum should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.