Common Name: Black Tea Tree

General Information

Melaleuca bracteata is an evergreen shrub or a small bushy tree that usually grows from 2 - 15 metres tall, but exceptionally reaching 20 metres[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a source of wood and essential oil. It is sometimes grown in soil conservation projects and also as an ornamental[].
On some sites, the plant has the potential to escape from cultivation and become a weed[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - South Australia, New South Wales. Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia.

Habitat

Banks of rivers and streams[]. Found on rugged to undulating and moderately hilly country, extending in some areas to the plains. It is often found around waterholes and along watercourses and may be confined to them in arid areas[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Melaleuca bracteata is a plant of the arid to moist, lowland tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 34°c, but can tolerate 10 - 43°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 900mm, but tolerates 200 - 1,150mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, but can tolerate light shade[]. Grows best in a medium to heavy, well-drained soil of moderate fertility[]. Requires a fertile, well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in full sun[]. Prefers a soil that does not contain much nitrogen[]. Plants can succeed in wet soils in hot somewhat arid regions[]. Tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Seed takes about 12 months to develop on the plant, the woody seed capsules persist for 3 or more years[].
Any pruning is best done after the plants have flowered with the intention of maintaining a compact habit[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves and twigs is antiseptic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree can be used to provide shelter, and for erosion control on stream banks and in gullies[].

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves[]. It is used in perfumery and soaps and can also be used as an ingredient in order to increase the potency of some insecticides[, ]. The oil is heavier than water[].

The wood is durable. It can be used for posts and poles[, ].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring or autumn onto a pot of permanently moist soil in a warm greenhouse. Emmerse in 5cm of water and do not water from overhead. Grow on until the seedlings are 0.5cm tall then remove from the water and pot up a week later. Seedlings are liable to damp off when grown this way, sowing the seed thinly, good ventilation and hygiene are essential for success[]. Grow the plants on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe lateral shoots with a heel, mid summer in a frame[].