Japanese name: メラレウカ ブラクテアタ Scientific name:Melaleuca bracteata
[Overview]
An evergreen shrub or tree, usually 5–8 m tall, sometimes 15 m.
The leaves are simple and alternate, linear, 0.8–2.8 cm long and 1–3 mm wide, scattered or arranged in spirals on the branch, and dense.
The upper surface of young leaves is covered with many hairs, and the underside has oil dots; when damaged, the leaves give off a citrus-like fragrance.
The leaf margins are entire.
Cylindrical spikes 3–9 cm long and about 1.5 cm wide bear flowers with conspicuous white to cream-colored stamens.
There are 5 petals, but they fall soon after flowering.
The fruit is a capsule about 3 mm across.
[Uses]
Essential oil is obtained from the leaves and twigs and is used for insecticides, perfumes and the like.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed and by cuttings.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil, and in warm regions it overwinters outdoors.
Frost damages the leaves.
It is usually grown in pots and kept indoors in winter.
Water when the soil surface dries.
Be careful, because the leaves fall if it runs short of water.
Keep it on the dry side in winter.
Apply slow-release fertilizer from spring to autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
