Rottnest Tea-tree

Rottnest Tea-tree is an easy-to-grow, small tree with showy white flowers.

For information on staying waterwise, seeking a watering exemption while establishing your garden, offers, rebates and more, please visit the Water Corporation website.

Noongar Name: Moonah

Scientific Name: Melaleuca lanceolata

Performance: Easy to grow

Size: Small tree with a maximum height up to 5m

Flower: White

Flowering Time: Kambarang – Bunuru (Oct – Mar)

Natural Distribution: Grows locally in the Perth region

: Melaleuca lanceolata (CC-BY 4.0) David Sando

: Melaleuca lanceolata (CC-BY-NC 4.0) David Sando

: Melaleuca lanceolata (CC-BY-NC 4.0) Greg Harper

: Melaleuca lanceolata (CC-BY-NC 4.0) trevorpescott

Growing at a Glance

See Growing Guide for more detail

Position: Suitable for a sunny position.

Watering: A waterwise, drought-hardy plant.

Feeding: Fertiliser not required.

Pruning: Generally not needed.

Waterwise Listing

Growing Guide

Ideal Position

Rottnest Tea-tree prefers an open, full sun position and is perfect for a feature shrubbery. This plant and its neighbours should be well spaced so they don’t overlap once fully grown. For best results, avoid morning, overhead or afternoon shade.

Rottnest Tea-tree is ideally placed at the back of your garden bed.

The Water Corporation has listed this tree as a species of moderate root invasiveness. Check with Water Corporation and Dial Before You Dig before selecting where to plant.

When to Plant and Watering

Plant young seedlings in Djeran (mid-Autumn) prior to the Makuru rains (Winter). Avoid planting in the hottest times of the year.
Seedlings should be watered twice a week over their first summer in the garden. It is important to ensure water penetrates down into the root-zone.
We recommend using a soil wetting agent as Perth soils are often ‘water repellent’, or do not absorb water effectively.
A layer of composted, coarse mulch can help in getting your garden started. It will help by reducing water loss and suppressing the growth of weeds.

Rottnest Tea-tree are waterwise, drought-hardy plants and do not require supplementary water once established.

Rottnest Tea-tree should be grouped with other waterwise, drought-hardy plants.

Feeding and Soil Care

Rottnest Tea-tree don’t need fertiliser because they are adapted to grow in our local soils, which are typically low in nutrients.
Plants will benefit from adding some vegetable-based compost (avoid those with manure) into the soil at planting.
As your garden develops, practice ‘cut and drop’ when you prune your plants. The leaf and branch material that falls to the ground slowly breaks down over time, releasing nutrients to help your garden to grow.

How to Prune

Rottnest Tea-tree generally don’t need pruning for shape, as their natural growth is usually attractive and/or interesting.
If part of the plant dies or grows in an undesired direction, prune from the base of the stem in question with a pair of secateurs or loppers.
You can also leave dead leaves and branches on the plant, as they provide valuable habitat and camouflage for insects.

Rottnest Tea-tree can be pruned back hard to correct its form or rejuvenate it.
Up to a third of its foliage can be removed using pruning shears or secateurs.
Woody branches can be removed at their base using a set of loppers or a sharp pruning saw.