General Description:

Leptospermopsis is a genus of 8 species which were formerly included in Leptospermum (see footnote). They are distinguished from Leptospermum in having non-woody fruits which are usually deciduous.  The reclassification has been accepted by Australian herbaria. It has not yet (July 2025) been taken up in the Australian Plant Census but it is highly probable that this will occur in a future update of the Census.

Leptospermopsis erubescens is a medium shrub up to 3 metres high. The leaves are narrow to broadly egg-shaped, up to 6 mm long and 4 mm wide. The typical ‘tea-tree’ flowers are about 10 mm in diameter with numerous small stamens surrounding the central stigma. They are white or pink in colour and appear at the ends of short branchlets in winter to spring. The bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flower buds are reddish in colour. Flowering is followed by small non-woody, which are mostly deciduous.

This species doesn’t seem to be in widespread cultivation but it is a useful plant for seasonally dry areas.  It requires a sunny location and well drained soils and should respond well to pruning to produce a bushy growth habit.  It will tolerate extended dry conditions once established.

Propagation is easy from both seed and cuttings.