Melaleuca leucadendra 'Fine Leaf'
Fine Leaf Melaleuca
The Melaleuca leucadendra 'Fine Leaf', or Fine Leaf Melaleuca, is a graceful evergreen tree or large shrub known for its slender, weeping foliage and distinctive, papery white bark. This Australian native is fast-growing, reaching heights of 8 to 12 metres, with a spreading canopy that provides excellent shade. In spring and summer, it produces creamy white, bottlebrush-like flowers that attract pollinators and wildlife.
Hardy and versatile, the Fine Leaf Melaleuca is ideal for use as a feature tree, windbreak, or screen in tropical and subtropical gardens.
Specifications
- Height8 to 12 metres
- Width5 to 8 metres
- Native toAustralia
- FoliageSlender, fine green leaves; evergreen
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers well-drained soils; tolerates sandy, loamy, and clay types
- LightFull sun to partial shade
- WaterModerate; tolerates wet soils and occasional flooding
- ClimateThrives in tropical, subtropical, and coastal regions
Additional Features
- FlowersCreamy white, bottlebrush-like blooms in spring and summer
- BarkPapery, peeling white bark adds texture and year-round interest
- FormUpright, spreading canopy with a weeping habit
- UsesIdeal for shade, windbreaks, screens, or as a feature tree
- SpacingPlant 5 to 8 metres apart for standalone displays or 2 to 4 metres for screens
- Low MaintenanceRequires minimal pruning; shape as desired when young
- Pest ResistanceNaturally resilient and hardy
- Drought ToleranceTolerates dry conditions once established
- Wildlife AttractionFlowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds
- Erosion ControlEffective for stabilising slopes or managing waterlogged areas
- VersatilityComplements native, tropical, and modern garden styles
The Fine Leaf Melaleuca is a stunning and resilient tree, perfect for enhancing gardens with shade, texture, and ecological value.
Project pedigree: This species has stood in Ornatec's drought, salt and frost tolerance palette since the 1990s. Read the tolerance catalogue record.