Japanese name: メラレウカ リナリーフォリア Scientific name:Melaleuca linariifolia
[Overview]
In its native range it is found mainly along waterways and in wetlands, and is an evergreen shrub to small tree 6–10 m tall.
It forms a dense crown.
The bark is grayish white and peels off in paper-like strips.
The new buds are at first hairy, but the hairs later disappear.
The leaves are simple and alternate, linear to lanceolate, 1.7–4.5 cm long and 0.1–0.4 cm wide.
The leaves have oil dots and give off a fragrance when damaged.
The leaf margins are entire.
Spike-like inflorescences about 4 cm long bear white to cream flowers with conspicuous feathery stamens, in such numbers that they cover the tree.
There are 5 petals, but they fall soon after flowering.
The stamens are in 5 bundles of 32–73 each.
The fruit is a capsule about 0.3 cm long.
[Uses]
Essential oil is obtained from the leaves and twigs.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or cuttings.
It prefers fertile, sunny, well-drained, moderately moist soil, and in warm regions it can overwinter outdoors.
Frost damages the leaves.
Apply slow-release fertilizer from spring to autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
