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Dig This: New Zealand Tea Tree

Posted on: Saturday, 18 March 2006, 15:00 CST

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).

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

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Source: The Sacramento Bee

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