Leptospermum

Evergreen alpine Aussie growing in the same habitat as Snow Gums. This has billowy gray-green foliage and 1" white flowers borne on last year's wood. With age, the bark exfoliates and reveals a very shiny trunk which adds to the allure. Sun, good drainage, dryish and phooey to the deer. Just a superb plant.

One of the hardiest Leptospermums, this creeping form is from the alpine areas of Tasmania and has grown for many years at the Arboretum in Seattle. Evergreen leaves with small white flowers, this would be a shame not to have it in the rock garden and a greater shame not to have it spilling over a wall.

Riverine Tea Tree. This uncommon to cultivation Tasmania endemic is often found along stream banks in its native setting so can take moister conditions than some other species. White flowers on an evergreen shrub with good flaking bark and getting to 8'-10'. Deer proof as well.

One of the hardiest of the Leptospermums which, in time and left alone, will achieve the appearance of a ruggedly handsome small tree. We say this in case you have control issues and mistake shearing for pruning in which case this will be a nice dense ball. Or square. Or blob. Evergreen, nice white flowers, deer-proof, drought tolerant. Thanks to Leptophiliac Ian Barclay for sharing this.

This is the first introduction in the US of this selection. We got cuttings from a friend in The Netherlands who is a rabid collector and he was very excited to send us cuttings. This is a hardy Tasmanian species that has a hint of pink in the flowers and dark pink new growth.

Exceptional form of the species we received from the Master Of Leptospermum, Ian Barclay of Desert Northwest. This fast-growing Tea Tree will become a fine large shrub to 15' in mild areas. Silver-purplish needle-like leaves in summer turn darker purple in fall & winter. The small white flowers are visual madness. Ours has handled 10F in our dry garden. Deer proof.

A collection from Mount Imlay in New South Wales of an expected hardier form of the species. Prickly needle-like leaves on a multi-stemmed shrub with white flowers although light pink flowers have been reported in that location. Ours is white so that takes the guesswork out. This should be fine in milder gardens here in the Puget Sound and can take poorly drained situations. Deer do not find this tasty.