This dwarf graceful, weeping tea tree is a wonderful addition to any garden, it can be used as a privacy screen, in a mixed hedge or as a soft backdrop in a layered planting.

The compact habit of Little Lemon Scents is far smaller growing and more shapely than its parent, Leptospermum petersonii (Lemon-Scented Tea Tree). It grows to approx 1.5-2mts tall and 1.5mts wide.

Leptospermum petersonii ‘Little Lemon Scents’ starts to flower in Winter and will happily carry on into Spring, with a spectacular display of snow-white flowers which will attract many pollinating insects. The more sun it gets the more prolofic the flowers.

Leptospermum petersonii contains citral and citronellal giving the leaves a delightful fresh lemon scent when crushed. First Nations People traditionally used the leaves as an insect repellent as they contain high amounts of oil and can be rubbed on the skin.

Citral is flavoring in soft drinks and used in the production of perfumes.

Bees and Butterflies are attracted to this plant making it a great choice for habitat gardens, and nectar from this plant will produce honey.

It is also used as a cut flower, leaves in a Tea, Fragrant oils, leaves or twigs in a bath is also very refreshing.

Leptospermum ‘Little Lemon Scents’ is fast growing and will grow well in full sun to part shade, I have this growing in my garden under large Eucalypts and it is thriving. This is also a wonderful shrub for kids Playgrounds and sensory gardens, if you pick the leaves and crush them and then rub them on your skin it will keep. mosquitoes at bay.

It is a tough plant with a tolerance to wind, coastal conditions and is drought tolerant once established. It will grow in a wide range of soil types and climates and stays dense front the ground up. Prune it back after flowering and it will produce a flush of pinky-red new grwoth.

I have been using this species for a while as I love its vidid green pop against more silver or grey tones. In the image above & below you can see how well it sets off the silvers of Grevillea ‘Dorothy Gordon‘, Leucophyta brownii and Chrysocephalum apiculatum.

Leptospermum petersonii ‘Little Lemon Scents’ will also tolerate temporary inundation and heavy soils, and is unfazed by humidity. This makes it an excellent choice for hedging on the East coast of NSW and into the Tropics.