Botanical Name: Melaleuca quinquenervia (M. Leucodendra)
Common Name: Cajeput Tree
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an erect, mostly single-trunked tree, with short side branches forming a slender, open oval canopy; mature plant has a thick, spongy, white papery bark
Height 20-40'
Spread 1/4-1/2
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun
Soil tolerates most except highly alkaline soils
Hardiness some frost (zones 9, 13, 16, 17, 20-24); prefers warm coast
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, alternate, elliptic-oval or oblong; 2-4" long, leathery-stiff; resemble bottlebrush leaves
Flowers creamy white, 1/2"-1" diameter, with numerous stamens; in mostly terminal clusters; late spring-fall
Fruit a woody capsule: 1/8" diameter, reddish-brown
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
widely used as a vertical accent (flowers, loose form, white bark); also as street tree, patio tree, background clumps
 
Landscape Care:
Watering an occasional deep soak preferred; tolerates regular if drainage is good
Fertilizing as needed; suffers from iron chlorosis in wet heavy soils
Pruning as needed, to maintain shape and remove dead wood
Pests/Diseases relatively free
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Australia
Family: Myrtaceae

Notes:
 
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