Leptospermum scoparium Red Falls - Tea-tree

Leptospermum, or tea tree, are <strong>upright and bushy young plants with small evergreen leaves</strong> that are often aromatic, providing a long flowering period that can extend from March to July depending on the varieties. <strong>They are quite accommodating in terms of soil,</strong> moderately hardy (-5 to -10°C depending on the varieties) <strong>and primarily grow in regions with mild winters.</strong> Many cultivars exist, offering very long, brightly coloured flowerings in pink, red, white, or even salmon. Among the best are Leptospermum 'Martini', spectacular and flowering from April to June, 'Red Damask', with bright pink double flowers, and Leptospermum Blanc, a vigorous bush with single white flowers. In their country of origin, Leptospermum are used in large hedges or as background plants. Here, <strong>these floriferous and low-maintenance bushes are popular in gardens with mild climates.</strong> They often serve as one of the centrepieces of a small garden, in a shrub border alongside ericaceous plants. The combination is ideal with other plants from southern regions belonging to the same Myrtaceae family (Melaleuca, Callistemon, Feijoa, Eucalyptus) or Proteaceae such as Grevillea, or alongside Echium pininana or fastuosum, Beschorneria yuccoides, Melianthus, and Euryops with its endless yellow flowering. Gardeners in more continental climates will grow them easily in large pots on the terrace, to be stored away in winter. [caption id="attachment_45554" align="alignnone" width="1172"]<img class="size-full wp-image-45554" title="Beautiful flowering of the tea tree." src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Leptospermum.jpg" alt="Leptospermum scoparium" width="1172" height="780" /> Beautiful flowering of the tea tree.[/caption] The tea tree is content with a <strong>light, moist to dry, and often poor soil</strong>. Beyond its truly charming flowering, the delicacy of its evergreen leaves, and its robustness against diseases, its qualities lie in its <strong>tolerance to wind, drought, pollution, and sea spray</strong>. An ideal plant for coastal regions that requires no maintenance. As a little history, Leptospermum gets its common name of <strong>tea tree</strong> (not to be confused with the "Tea-tree" used in aromatherapy) from Captain Cook and his crew who brewed the leaves of <em>Leptospermum scoparium</em> among others, as a preventive measure against scurvy and to aid digestion.