Snow-in-summer paperbark

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established trees tolerate dry spells, but grow best with moisture available deep in the soil; they also tolerate periodic waterlogging.

Soil

Adaptable to sandy, loamy or clay soils, including seasonally wet ground; prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Height

20-35 ft (6-10.5 m)

Spread

15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m)

Flowers

Dense, fluffy white flower clusters in late spring and summer; the main display is usually in summer.

Foliage

Evergreen, narrow, pointed green leaves, usually arranged in opposite pairs; aromatic when crushed.

Growth

Moderate to fast with warmth and adequate moisture.

Care needed

Low

• 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

   8 ft (2.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   13 ft (4 m)

About 16 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

Safe

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, allowing the surface soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Mulch over the root area, keeping mulch clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is poor; use a light application of fertiliser suitable for Australian native plants.
• Plant where the mature crown and roots have space, away from paving, drains and building foundations.
• Protect young trees from frost and cold, drying winds.

Pruning. Prune lightly after flowering to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches. Develop a sound branch framework while the tree is young rather than repeatedly cutting back a mature crown.

Spring

Plant after frost risk has passed, and water thoroughly.

Spring

Check young trees for frost damage and remove dead wood once new growth shows what has survived.

Early summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather, especially around recently planted trees.

After summer flowering

Lightly prune for shape if needed, retaining the tree's natural spreading crown.

Autumn

Renew mulch without piling it against the trunk.

Winter

Protect young specimens during forecast frosts; check ties and stakes after strong winds.

• Use as a specimen shade tree where its white flowers and pale bark can be seen from the house.
• Plant beside a broad lawn or open seating area, allowing room for fallen leaves, bark and flowers.
• Combine with lomandra, dianella and native sedges for a layered Australian planting.
• Use on the higher margins of a rain garden or seasonally damp garden, leaving space for its mature roots.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance, White garden and Woodland.

Plant it with: Spiny-headed mat-rush, Blue flax-lily, Knobby club-rush, Swamp banksia and Coastal rosemary.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects, and attract nectar-feeding birds in Australia. The crown provides shelter for small birds.

• Frost can scorch foliage and kill young shoots: choose a sheltered, warm site and protect young trees during cold snaps.
• Myrtle rust can cause yellow-orange pustules and distorted new growth, especially in humid Australian regions: avoid moving infected material and follow local plant-health advice.
• Scale insects can produce sticky honeydew and sooty mould: encourage beneficial insects and treat accessible infestations with a labelled horticultural oil.
• Roots can lift nearby paving or enter damaged drains: allow generous planting clearance and repair leaking pipes.

The living plant is not generally known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific safety information is limited. Do not eat the leaves or give them to animals; concentrated melaleuca oils can cause serious poisoning if swallowed and should not be applied to pets.

Where it spreads. Listed as invasive in South Africa. Check local restrictions before planting, and prevent seedlings from establishing near waterways or natural vegetation.

• Prickly-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides)

  Has shorter, broader, distinctly prickly leaves rather than the slender, flax-like leaves of snow-in-summer.

• Broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia)

  Has much broader leaves with five conspicuous lengthwise veins and more clearly cylindrical flower spikes.

• Bracelet honey-myrtle (Melaleuca armillaris)

  Has very fine leaves arranged alternately around the stems and flowers in more distinct cylindrical spikes; snow-in-summer usually has opposite leaf pairs.

The name linariifolia means flax-leaved, while snow-in-summer describes the mass of white flowers and paperbark refers to the peeling bark.

Propagation. Raise from the fine seed released by mature woody capsules, surface-sowing onto moist seed compost in warmth and light. Named selections should be propagated from semi-ripe cuttings to retain their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Melaleuca linariifolia

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

New South Wales and Queensland.

Measured

Average height 1000 cm.

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