Paperbark Trees

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If you use the Gutierrez Street corridor to transit through town, you can't have missed the explosion of white covering the trees along the 400 to 800 blocks (east, that is). On some trees it is nearly impossible to see any green at all, so dense are the flower spikes. These are variously known as the five-veined (for the number of veins on the small leaves!) paperbark or even tea tree. Their botanical name is Melaleuca quinquinervia (there's that reference to the veins on the leaves again; do botanists just count leaf veins all day, or what?). Besides having five veins in their leaves and the incredible flower display on view right now, these impressive trees also have lovely bark. Thus, the other half of that common name—paperbark. Thin layers of somewhat papery, somewhat spongy bark build up over the years and split and shred over time. The result is fissures and shreds of white paper-like bark that contribute very handsomely to the landscape.

The other common name, tea tree, refers to the high incidence of an essential oil that has shown some medicinal importance. Extracts of the oil have been proven to kill germs and have been used to treat accidental wounds as well as those induced through surgery and even dentistry. Its aromatic properties have also been exploited in perfumery. Most of those uses are relegated to the past as the elemental properties have now been artificially synthesized.

Whatever you call it, this Melaleuca makes a handsome tree or parkland specimen. For most gardeners, it will be a tad oversized. Mature trees may top out at 50 feet, with a spread of 25 feet or more. In the coastal regions of eastern Australia where it is native, it grows along streams and estuaries where groundwater is plentiful. In our climate, it can be quite drought tolerant as evidenced by its success as a street tree where it receives no supplemental watering. This ability to live in moist soils has, unfortunately, made it somewhat of a pest in Hawai‘i, where it has slipped its boundaries and become invasive. In spite of its split personality, this paperbark tree is one of our most ornamental imports.

July Tips

• June gloom gone? Don't forget your hat and sunscreen when you work in the garden.

• Put out a birdbath or a large-diameter saucer of water for feathered friends.

• Make sure mulch is nice and thick and check soil moisture before watering.

• Plant extra vegetables for those in need. For information, visit gardenwriters.org and foodbanksbc.org.

Related Links

• More Gardening columns

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