Distinguishing traits. Australian Tea Tree is a showstopping specimen tree that exudes a casual and understated aesthetic. The flaky gray bark and twisting form of the tree's trunk are identifiers of the tea tree and what make it so unlike any other. The trunk and bark only become more sculptural with age.
Botanical name: Leptospermum laevigatum
Common names: Australian Tea Tree, Coast Tea Tree
USDA zones: 9 to 11
Water requirement: Little to none
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 10 to 30 feet tall and wide
Tolerances: Drought; thrives in coastal conditions