Broad-leaved paperbark

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but develops a denser crown and flowers better in sun.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established trees tolerate seasonal flooding and some drought, though prolonged dryness can thin the canopy.

Soil

Tolerates sand, loam and clay, including seasonally waterlogged ground; prefers acidic to neutral soil.

Height

30-70 ft (9-21 m), occasionally taller in favorable conditions

Spread

20-40 ft (6-12 m)

Flowers

Creamy white bottlebrush spikes, mainly from summer into autumn in Australia; flowering can occur at other times in warm climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Leathery, aromatic, grey-green to green leaves with usually five prominent lengthwise veins.

Growth

Fast in warm conditions with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   10 ft (3 m)

3. After 2 years

   13 ft (4 m)

4. After 3 years

   16 ft (5 m)

5. After 5 years

   23 ft (7 m)

About 13 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Native to

Australia

Invasive in

the US

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Check invasive-plant regulations before buying; do not plant where it threatens nearby wetlands.
• Allow room for a large tree, well away from buildings, drains and overhead wires.
• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons.
• Apply a broad layer of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is poor; in Australian native plantings, use a low-phosphorus fertilizer sparingly.

Pruning. Train young trees in late winter or after the main flowering period, retaining well-spaced branches and removing competing leaders where a single trunk is wanted. Remove dead or damaged wood as needed; avoid topping mature trees and use a qualified arborist for large limbs.

Spring

Where planting is permitted, plant after frost risk has passed and water the root area thoroughly.

Late spring

Refresh mulch and check that any tree ties are loose enough to allow trunk movement.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry weather; check new shoots for distorted growth or rust pustules.

Autumn

Remove unwanted seedlings while small, especially beside drains and wet ground.

Winter

Check for frost damage and broken branches; delay cutting frost-damaged shoots until new growth shows what has survived.

Late winter

Lightly shape young trees before vigorous growth resumes, unless they are flowering.

• Use as a specimen in a large lawn where the layered pale bark can be seen clearly.
• Plant in spacious Australian native wetland gardens with swamp banksia and moisture-tolerant ground plants.
• Use a loose group to create a light evergreen canopy over robust sedges and flax-lilies.
• Set against darker evergreen planting to emphasize the pale trunk and cream flowers.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Coastal, Wildlife garden, Bog garden, Architectural minimal and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Swamp banksia, Swamp bottlebrush, Spiny-headed mat-rush, Blue flax-lily and Swamp lily.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects, and attract nectar-feeding birds in its native range. The canopy and layered bark offer shelter, but outside its native range dense stands can displace much more valuable wetland habitat.

• Myrtle rust can cause yellow-orange pustules and distorted young shoots. Avoid overhead watering, do not move infected plants, and follow local plant-health advice.
• Scale insects can cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould. Encourage natural predators and treat accessible infestations with a horticultural oil labeled for the plant and pest.
• Frost can scorch foliage and kill young shoots. Choose a sheltered, frost-light site and protect young trees during cold snaps.
• Heavy seed production can lead to unwanted seedlings. Pull seedlings early; where the tree is invasive, seek approved removal advice rather than relying on pruning.

Species-specific information on poisoning from garden exposure is limited, so the leaves and bark should not be assumed safe for people, cats, dogs or horses to eat. Concentrated niaouli essential oil distilled from the foliage can be harmful if swallowed and should be kept away from children and pets; do not apply it to animals.

Where it spreads. Highly invasive in southern Florida, especially the Everglades, where it forms dense stands and alters wetland habitats and fire behavior. It is a US federal noxious weed and a prohibited plant in Florida. It is also reported invasive in Hawaii and parts of the Caribbean; check current local rules before planting or moving seed.

• Weeping paperbark (Melaleuca leucadendra)

  Usually has narrower, longer leaves and more noticeably drooping branchlets; broad-leaved paperbark generally has broader, stiffer leaves and a less weeping crown.

• Prickly-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides)

  Has small, sharply pointed leaves rather than the broad, leathery leaves with conspicuous lengthwise veins.

• Swamp paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia)

  Has very narrow, short leaves and commonly forms a suckering thicket, unlike the broad-leaved, usually larger tree.

Melaleuca comes from Greek words meaning black and white, referring to contrasting bark seen in the genus, while quinquenervia means five-veined and describes the prominent veins in the leaves.

Propagation. Usually raised from fine seed sown on the surface of moist propagation mix in warm conditions; do not bury deeply. Capsules can retain seed on branches for years and release it after drying or disturbance. Do not propagate where possession or distribution is restricted.

Accepted botanical name

Melaleuca quinquenervia

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Hawaii, the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales and Queensland.

Measured

Average height 1200 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.