Dig This: New Zealand Tea Tree

By Dan Vierria, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Mar. 18–Today we begin a new monthly feature on noteworthy plants for the Sacramento area

(Leptospermum scoparium)

Uses: Evergreen landscape shrubs or small trees. Dense growth can provide privacy screening.

Size: Depends on variety and pruning. Some are compact. Left unpruned, some can reach 12 to 15 feet tall

Flowers, foliage: Profusion of petite, roselike blooms in red, pink or white. Blooms January into June. Dense, needlelike foliage that is reddish-purple in varieties such as “Ruby Glow,”"Crimson Glory” and “Burgundy Queen.”

Care: Can be temperamental after planting. Give it what it needs – full sun, well-drained soil and plenty of water – and you should avoid transplant shock. New plants require regular watering. Once established, cut back to moderate watering. In heavy-clay soil areas, consider planting in large containers filled with quick-draining potting soil.

Comments: Striking shrub in and out of bloom, especially the varieties with reddish-purple leaves. But its rather informal appearance isn’t compatible with formal gardens. Handling foliage with bare hands may cause skin allergy (red, itchy welts).

—–

Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.