

Tea trees
Botanical name: Melaleuca
Tea trees
Botanical name: Melaleuca


Description

The tea trees are a genus of shrubs that can be found throughout Asia. In addition to providing cover for animals, some species, such as the Tea tree, have been used for their oil. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats and in gardens it is often used for ornamental screens .


Species of Tea trees


Tea tree
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a native tree of Australia and will grow to 6 m tall. Commonly found growing along streams and waterways, it has a bushy crown and thin-white paper-like bark. Oil from the leaves of this tree is commonly known as tea tree oil. Blooms from spring to summer with fluffy white flowers. Thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soil.

Punk tree
The punk tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) is a plant considered to be an invasive species in the Everglades in Florida. It was brought to the United States from its native Australia and crowds out native vegetation.

Black tea-tree
The black tea-tree is an Australian shrub that can grow into a tree prized for its many uses to landowners. This evergreen shrub can tolerate drought and is perfect for landscaping open spaces and urban parks. The plant is scented and used in making soap, perfume, and insect repellant. Its off-white bottle brush flowers attract wildlife.

Snow-in-summer
Snow-in-summer (Melaleuca linariifolia) is a richly descriptive and fitting name for the profuse white flowers of this tropical shrub or small tree. The beauty of these flowers and the attractive leathery leaves make it a popular ornamental garden plant, particularly its dwarf cultivars that fit better into smaller gardens. Snow-in-summer is also rich in essential oils, particularly "tea-tree" oil.

Cajuput
Melaleuca cajuputi is an important source of Cajuput oil, an essential oil used as a remedy for bacterial or fungal infections in fish. The trunk of this medium tree is spongy to the touch. Commonly called cajuput, it is a food source for the caterpillars of several moths, such as Attacus atlas.

Paper-bark tree
The paper-bark tree (*Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cumingiana*) is a naturally occurring variety of Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cumingiana named in honor of Hugh Cumin, the English collector and botanist. This evergreen tree is known to be poisonous even with skin contact, so it should be handled with caution.

Chenille honeymyrtle
Chenille honeymyrtle is a lovely evergreen shrub with unique features. It is native to Western Australia and is widely used in gardens for its stunning display of reddish-pink flowers from late winter to early spring. In addition, the plant has strong insect-repelling properties and is often used in natural insecticides. Chenille honeymyrtle is easy to care for and thrives in a sunny, well-drained spot.

Swamp paperbark
The swamp paperbark are a genus of shrubs that can be found throughout Asia. In addition to providing cover for animals, some species, such as the Tea tree, have been used for their oil. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats and in gardens it is often used for ornamental screens .

Melaleuca pulchella
The melaleuca pulchella are a genus of shrubs that can be found throughout Asia. In addition to providing cover for animals, some species, such as the Tea tree, have been used for their oil. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats and in gardens it is often used for ornamental screens .




Scientific Classification
