This shrub to small tree has upright to weeping slender greyish branches that form a rounded crown. The glossy green narrow leaves have a lemon scent and the small white wheel-shaped flowers appear over the plant during summer.

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Leptospermum petersonii is naturally found in Australia from south-east Queensland to northern New South Wales growing along coastal creeks or on rock escarpments and in rainforest margins. 

It tolerates most well drained moderately fertile moist sandy soils and prefers an open sunny position. It is  salt tolerant but drought and frost tender

The Lemon-scented Tea Tree is grown for its profuse flowers and bushy habit. It is planted along garden borders for screening or trimmed to form an informal hedge and is used as a wind break in exposed coastal positions. It establishes in 2 to 4 years and is long lived. It is also used in street plantings or trained to form a small shade tree and the dried leaves are used to make a lemon flavoured tea or can be used for pot-pourri. ID 170

Leptospermum (lep-to-SPERM-um) petersonii (peter-SON-ee-eye)

From Greek leptos, “slender”, + sperma, “seed”; “petersonii” commemorates Australian W.J. Peterson, collector of the first specimen.

Myrtaceae (mir-TAY-see-ee)
Myrtle, Eucalyptus, Clove and Guava Family