Leptospermum lanigerum Silver Sheen - Woolly Tea-tree

Leptospermum Silver Sheen forms a magnificent bush endowed with fine evergreen foliage of a silver-grey colour all year round. It has vigorous and slender vegetation which virtually disappears at the end of spring under a multitude of small white flowers blooming all along its branches. It is an excellent plant for varied evergreen hedges, less demanding and more hardy than most other Leptospermum. It will thrive in a coastal garden, but will tolerate any climate that is not too rigorous. Preferably offer it a good quality soil, well-drained, even a bit sandy, as well as a sunny or partially shaded site.

Leptospermum Silver Sheen is a horticultural derivation of L. lanigerum var. lanigerum, a botanical species known as Woolly tea tree, native to the coastal mountains of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria state and Tasmania, which bequeathed this bush its small silvery foliage and its lovely ice white flowers. This bush is a cousin of Mediterranean myrtles, clove trees and Eucalyptus. It belongs to the same family, the Myrtaceae, and shares with these plants a love of heat and a tolerance for dry and poor soils. Endowed with a bushy, dense and erect habit, it will reach on average 1.70m (5.5 ft) in height and 1.30m (4 ft) in spread. It is provided with alternate, single, tapering, small leaves, white when budding, later taking on a green hue somewhat masked by numerous silver bristles that give them a woolly appearance. The entire foliage displays a green-grey-silver colour. The flowers, single, honey producing and rich in nectar, appear over 5 to 6 weeks from April to May in warmer climates, later on in colder ones. They are composed of 5 white petals surrounding a green heart and can reach 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) in diameter. They are followed by small capsules releasing fine elongated seeds. This bush can be lightly pruned after flowering, from May to July.

The 'Silver Sheen' tea tree tolerates temperatures down to -12°C (10.4 °F) but the aerial parts can be damaged from -8°C (17.6 °F). It need a sheltered place, in full but not scorching sun. It copes well with sea spray, which makes it a very beautiful bush for seaside gardens. While it prefers neutral to slightly acid soils, it also tolerates clay-limestone soils according to some experts, as long as they are light, loamy and properly drained. 

Leptospermum Silver Sheen can be planted in beds or borders in combination with other Australian or New Zealand shubs such as Callistemon, Grevillea or Melaleuca, but also with South African species: Gomphostigma White Candy, Dierama, Aloe arborescens, Anisodontea capensis or even Melianthus major should enjoy the same growing conditions. It can also be used to create a medium evergreen hedge (not more than 2m (6 to 7 ft) tall) along with Myrtles, large cistus (Cistus laurifolius, Citus (x) aguilari), Feijoa, or Olearia. In regions with very cold winters the plant should be grown in a pot and kept frost-free throughout the winter.

Leptospermum means "thin seed" and takes its common English name of tea tree from Captain Cook and his crew, who used its leaves to prevent scurvy.