Leptospermums
Leptospermum ‘Aphrodite’
We have planted 25 different species and cultivars of Leptospermum, 111 plants altogether, of which 45 plants, or 40%, remain in the garden. We now grow 13 different species and cultivars of Leptospermum in the garden in May 2024.
Leptospermum ‘Aphrodite’ (photo below left)
As part of our foundation planting we planted 12 Leptospermum ‘Aphrodite’, which is a selection of Leptospermum spectabile by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery. This plant forms a dense bushy shrub to 2.5m high and 2m across with bright pink flowers most years in November. All removed by May 2022.
Leptospermum brachyandrum (photos above, middle and right)
Leptospermum brachyandrum or Silver Weeping Tea Tree, is an attractive small tree with silver foliage and white flowers in spring. This tree can be 3.5m high and 2-3m wide, but in our garden has grown very slowly to 1.5m high. We planted six from 2013-17 and our first blooms were in December 2015. We planted these plants on the edge of our large pond to ensure that they had a continual source of moisture. This plant is native to coastal regions of NSW north of Port Macquarie and coastal Queensland.
Leptospermum ‘Burgundy’ (photos below left two)
We planted Leptospermum ‘Burgundy’ in March 2005 and it grew well originally showing its attractive burgundy colour until the heat and drought of 2014 caused it to fail. We planted another in August 2018 and covered this plant for its first winter. This plant has grown to 2m tall so far and has bloomed for us in 2020. This cultivar can grow to 3m high and 1.5m wide.
Leptospermum ‘Copper Glow’ (photos above right two)
We planted Leptospermum “Copper Glow’ in February 2006. This cultivar has formed a rounded shrub to 3m high by 2m wide with copper coloured leaves and small white flowers in December for us.
Leptospermum ‘Copper Sheen’ (photos above)
We planted Leptospermum ‘Copper Sheen’ in March 2007 which is expected to grow to 2m high and wide, with bronze foliage and showy scented white flowers with green centres. This plant barely grew and we removed it in May 2010 for failure to thrive. We were given three of these plants by a friend and planted them in the upper sand garden in November 2016. Unfortunately they have not grown any better than the first plant. Two of them are still alive but very tiny. These plants hail (we think, according to ACRA) from central and western Tasmania, so I do not think that frost is the problem in our garden.
Leptospermum ‘Julie Anne’
We planted this cultivar of L. rotundifolium, a prostrate, evergreen, spreading shrub, 30cm high x 1.2m wide, with pale pink flowers in October 2023. This plant prefers full sun in well drained soils and tolerates light frost.
Leptospermum ‘Love Affair’
We planted this evergreen shrub, 1.5m high and wide, with soft pink flowers in October 2023. This hardy shrub prefers full sun or part shade and is a cross between Leptospermum 'Cardwell' and Leptospermum 'Rhiannon'.
Leptospermum ‘Merinda’ (photos below, left two)
Leptospermum ‘Merinda’ has very attractive magenta flowers and we have planted 17 of these In varying parts of the garden, but only three remain. We planted 11 over the years 2005-6, but webbing caterpillar, drought and heat have all caused problems and all were removed by 2010. We have planted another 6 in 2019 and three of these succumbed to the terrible heat of summer 2019-20 even though they were under a certain amount of shade. ‘Merinda’ is a small shrub, 1m x 1m.
Leptospermum ‘Mesmer Eyes’ (photos above, right two)
We have planted nine of these hardy shrubs from 2005-07, 1.5m high x 1m wide with large flowers that open white and change to pink as they age. The colour change gives the plant a delightful two toned appearance and the stamens around the dark centres resemble large eyes.
Leptospermum morrisonii
We planted Leptospermum morrisonii in May 2009 and this shrub has grown to 3m high and first flowered for us in December 2010. The bronzed green leaves are narrow and flowers are white. The bush did not bloom in the extreme heat of December 2019. This plant is native from the Blue Mountains to southern NSW.
Leptospermum ‘Outrageous’ (photos below, left two)
Leptospermum ‘Outrageous’ is another attractive shrub from Bywong Nursery with deep red flowers and drooping branches, growing to approximately 2m high x 1.5m wide. Our two ‘Outrageous’ were planted in October 2005 and have grown to 1m x 1.5m wide and flowered every year, despite being infected with webbing caterpillar in March 2006.
Leptospermum ‘Pageant’ (photos above, right two)
We planted five Leptospermum ‘Pageant’ in 2005-6, but these became infected by webbing caterpillar and were removed. We have planted another four in September 2016 in the upper sand garden, hoping that the light soil and open position would protect them from the caterpillars. So far these have grown well to 1m x 1.5m and the purple flowers are spectacular for a short period.
Leptospermum polygalifolium - Tantoon Jellybush
We planted this upright shrub, 2-3m high x 1-1.5m wide, with purplish new growth and many white flowers in July 2022. This plant will tolerate heavy soils and wet conditions and is fast growing.. Native to eastern mainland Australia and Lord Howe Island.
Leptospermum ‘Riot’
We planted three of these upright shrubs, 1.5m high x 1m wide, with bright carmine flowers, in November 2022. These frost hardy plants can be pruned to shape and prefer open sunny positions.
Leptospermum scoparium ‘Fantasia’ (photos above)
Three Leptospermum scoparium ‘Fantasia’ (photos above) were given to us by a friend and planted in 2015. We usually do not like double flowering plants as much as single, but will make an exception for ‘Fantasia’. There are many flowers of two tone orchid pink over a long period, which get darker with age. We were so enthusiastic about this cultivar that we planted another two in August 2016, but these died almost immediately. We have had five great years of flowering from these shrubs, but the extreme heat of summer 2019-20 has killed one and made the other two appear poorly. We will wait to see if these plants can recover this year. All gone by October 2021.
Leptospermum scoparium rosea
Leptospermum scoparium rosea is a plant that has performed very well in the garden of a friend in the central west of NSW. She gave us three plants to try in September 2018, but unfortunately two have died and the other is not thriving. This shrub should grow to 2m high with pink flowers. Died March 2021.
Leptospermum spectabile ‘Colo River Tea Tree’ (photos below, left two)
We planted this bushy evergreen, dense shrub, 1.5m high, with glossy dark green leaves, new growth tinted red and many dark red flowers with green centres, in November 2019. This plant prefers moist well drained soil in a sunny to partly shaded position. First flowers for us in November 2022. This plant is native to the Colo River in central coastal NSW.
Leptospermum ‘Tickled Pink’ (photos above, right two)
We planted this upright and spreading shrub, 2 m high x 1.5 m wide, with linear leaves and bright pink flowers with green centres, in October 2005. This hybrid is a cross between Leptospermum ‘Cardwell’ and L. ‘Rhiannon’ produced by Bywong Nursery, near Bungendore, NSW.
