Scientific Name: Leptospermum nitidum Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region

Common Name: shiny teatree

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Myrtaceae

Form Description: Rigid shrub, erect and much- branched, leaves light shining green.

Height (m): 2 – 4

Flowers: White with green centres, to 1.5cm in diameter. Petals sometimes flat, sometimes frilled.

Fruit: Woody capsule – deep cup-shaped when mature, nearly 1cm in diameter, scaly, and opening into 5 valves. Sepals are retained for some time around rim of fruit.

Municipality
BurnieCentral HighlandsDerwent ValleyFlindersHuon ValleyKentishLauncestonMeander ValleyNorthern MidlandsWaratah-WynyardWest CoastWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Coastal VegetationHeathRiparianWet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes

Common on buttongrass plains extending into forests and scrub fringing the plains. Locally abundant in wet heaths from sea level in the south-west and west to sub-alpine on the Central Plateau. At Cradle Mountain it grows on flat areas and slopes, in alluvial soils or on glacial till. Sea level at Rocky Cape.

Site Tolerance

Exposed, Moist, Windy

Soil Tolerance

Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained, Sandy, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Flowers on this species are good to spectacular, sometimes petals are flat, sometimes frilled. Bird attracting. Resistant to wildlife browsing due to its unpalatability.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed, Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Store capsules in paper bags until the very fine seed is released.

Seed Treatment Method

Bog Method The seeds of many wetland species need to be kept wet to germinate. Punch a hole in the side of a recycled polyfoam box so that it holds water to the required depth. Sit the tubes in the box to germinate. Once germinated, punch holes in the bottom of the box to allow drainage.

Seed Storage Life

Long

Seed Treatment Notes

Do not sow too thickly and lightly cover. Capillary watering may be useful due to the fine seed.

Germination Time

14-30 days

Cutting & Division Information

When grown from cuttings it is possible to select the preferred form – dense bush to prostrate and altitude preference from coastal to sub-alpine.