- Author: Trisha Rose
Properly known as Leptospermum, the "Tea Tree or Shrub" is an attractive choice for a casual hedge. I first purchased a group of these shrubs in the spring of 1997 when I first moved to Solano County from the East Bay. My choice was probably a cultivar of L. scoparium. At the time I made my plant choices based on looks and occasionally on someone's recommendations. At the time my Sunset Western Garden Book was more like an old Sears catalog, wish books to look over during rainy days like today. I really liked the lacey look of the Tea Trees/Shrubs with the very pretty small flowers marching up and down the stems. I remember having a heck of a time remembering the name of the shrub though. Later I read that Captain Cook used the leaves from these plants to make a tea for his sailors to prevent scurvy, so I guess that's where the common name came from.
There are a number of options when choosing a Tea Tree or Shrub with specimens with mature sizes varying from medium shrubs to 30' trees. The most common flower colors range from white to light pink and a darker rose. I chose the darker rose which was more complimentary to the light yellow house color. My house faced a busy residential street so I wanted a little privacy and maybe even some sound buffering, my Tea Shrubs grew together into a graceful hedge enclosing the front and side yard quite well. I never did prune these shrubs and didn't notice any insect issues, pretty lucky decision.
I recently saw these shrubs spreading into a hedge in a friends garden, they were a nice reminder of that garden I planted when I first moved to Solano County.