An attractive small tree that’s hardy and rewarding
MANY of us have probably heard and know of the famous weeping willow trees by riverbanks in temperate regions as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. However, the Weeping Tea Tree from Australia may not be familiar to all.
This pretty tree also has a weeping habit, with lovely arching branches and yellowhued leaves.
Known botanically as Leptospermum brachyandrum, the Weeping Tea Tree is from the family Myrtaceae, which originates from Queensland in Australia. There they can be found growing naturally along riverbanks and wetland areas.
When the leaves fall into the river, they will turn the water brown like tea, hence the name tea tree. Early colonial settlers from Europe in Australia used to boil the leaves as a substitute for tea when actual tea was not easily available in the new colony.
In Australia, this native tree has long been recognised to have economic importance in terms of landscaping and also for the content of its leaves. Its natural occurrence has been enlarged in suitable areas for industrial purposes. This species of tea tree is now planted in many other countries for both landscaping and industrial uses.
Based on my own experience with growing this tree in our tropical Sabah and Sarawak, I’ve found it is rather vigorous and can attain a height of 25 feet, while the trunk can be over 10 inches in diameter.
It was once a popular landscaping tree for many gardens. This is because of the fine yellowish foliage, white flowers, and aromatic fragrance. If you rub the leaves between your fingers, it will release a strong scent. It is this oil that is used to make ointment or to drive away mosquitoes.
Many bigger trees from the past, especially after over 10 years of establishment, have been cut down for fear of them dominating small gardens and getting out of control. My tree grows along the porch of the driveway, giving shade and keeping vehicles cool. Botanical features As mentioned, this is an attractive small tree, with graceful willowy branches that are capped by a yellowish crown. This feature has been very valuable for use in parks and public areas, giving the landscape design a very attractive and magnificent view.
The leaves of around 5cm are narrow with a lanceolate tip. It is this characteristic of the aromatic foliage that make the trees resemble willows.
The attractive flaky trunk peels off in small strips, exposing the smooth, shiny light brown to pinkish and purple new bark below. The wood is hard and good for making tool handles and small woodcrafts. I recently pruned the branches to reduce the size of my tree.
Its small white flowers are not obvious. They are borne on stalks with enlarged heads of five florets each. The flowers will attract small birds and bees. This feature allows gardeners to invite such friends to come into the garden to assist with pollination and pest control.
This shrub’s woody fruit is about 4mm in diameter. Some species keep their seeds, while others shed the seeds as they mature. This feature is most important in view of propagation of new seedlings for sale in nurseries. Cultivation Propagation of the tree can be by the germination of seeds on a large scale in nurseries or by cutting.
The plant grows in full sun or partial shade and is tolerant of drought, but prefers a moist position. It needs little maintenance once established. The use of fertiliser can actually be neglected in our local conditions as the tree is able to grow well without any additional input. Mulching with compost would be good enough for soil conditions with a pH5 to pH6.5, as this tree is a moderately acidic soil loving plant.
When planning to plant it in your own garden, ensure that you locate it in an open space that is wide enough for a large canopy of 10 feet in diameter at the end of five years. Another alternative is to constantly prune the tree to ensure that it does not become too big.
This tree is easy to take care of as long as there is rain because no assisted irrigation would be needed.
As for attacks, I have had no experience with pests or diseases as yet. Finally, you will also find that the plant is easy to handle as it will not dirty the ground with dead leaves.
Perhaps you can consider including this lovely tree in your home garden this year. Happy gardening.