How tall do melaleuca grow?

Melaleuca quinquenervia is a small to medium sized, spreading tree which usually grows to a height of 8–15 m (30–50 ft) high and a spread of 5–10 m (20–30 ft) but is sometimes as tall 25 m (80 ft).

How high do paperbark trees grow?

8 to 25 metres tall
A medium sized to tall tree, growing from 8 to 25 metres tall and 5 to 10 metres wide, with lovely thick soft papery bark in cream to brown shades.

Why are melaleuca trees bad?

The melaleuca tree is a Category 1 Florida invasive plant. It threatens our native trees, especially the cypress tree, and interrupts the flow of storm water through our very important Everglades and wetlands. Unfortunately, it’s 20 million tiny seeds from each tree per year rapidly spread by wind, rain and fire.

Do Melaleuca have invasive roots?

Although the species does not have an overly invasive root system, it should not be planted too close to infrastructure. Aboriginal people used the papery bark for building shelters, and wrapping food for cooking.

How tall does a melaleuca tree grow to be?

Melaleuca can reach 25 meters in height and grow to 90 centimeters in diameter. It is easily recognised by its spongy flaking bark (white, cream, orange-cream, fawn-grey or dark grey in colour (Craven, in press), lanceolate five-veined leaves, and clusters of woody seed capsules (Laroche 1999).

What are the leaves of a Melaleuca leucadendra?

Its leaves and young branches are covered with fine, short, white hairs when young but become glabrous as they mature. The leaves are arranged alternately, 75–270 mm (3–10 in) long, 6.5–40 mm (0.3–2 in) wide, flat, narrow egg-shaped or lance-shaped and tapering to a point.

Where did the name leucadendra tree come from?

The specific epithet ( leucadendra) is derived from the Ancient Greek words λευκός (leukós) meaning “white” and δένδρον (déndron) meaning “tree” referring to the white bark of this plant.

What was the bark of a melaleuca tree used for?

The bark was used to wrap food before cooking in an underground oven called a kap mari. It was also used to wrap the bodies of their dead. The bark from trunks of very large trees was used to make bark canoes. The crushed leaves were used to treat respiratory infections and the flowers for making a sweet drink.