What type of Melaleuca have I bought?

[Bek]

Hi all,

After a fruitful day at the Bonsai Society of SA annual show, I now own a cute group setting of Melaleuca. I've been trawling through the Melaleuca section but I'm having trouble identifying which kind I've bought. Here are some photos. The largest leaf was probably about 18mm long, but most were between 10-15mm. Hoping the photos will be good enough to ID it.




Any additional advice relating to this kind would be most welcome too. I know some back bud better than others etc.

[Laurie J]

Thanks for starting this Bek! I too got one, looks the same as yours. I'm guessing they came from the same seller. Will be watching this thread

[Pup]

Looks more like a Callistemon, or bottlebrush if you prefer.

Cheers Pup

[Phoenix238]

I agree with pup about it looking like a callistemon, but then again I haven't seen any Mel's up close

[squizzy]

When I first looked I also thought callistemon but the more I look the more I think m.linariifolia maybe claret tops that has just been pruned lightly. It's the way the leaves form almost opposite. Looks much to fine for callistemon also

Squizz

[Pup]

When I first looked I also thought callistemon but the more I look the more I think m.linariifolia maybe claret tops that has just been pruned lightly. It's the way the leaves form almost opposite. Looks much to fine for callistemon also

Squizz

Both Linarifolia and claret tops have paperbark . Not fissured as these trees have.

Cheers Pup

[squizzy]

this is what I thought to be a claret tops?bark up close

Maybe mine is different to linariifolia?

[Pup]

]Here are my Melaleuca linarifolia and Melaleuca claret tops, also a bottle brush, to show what I meant by Paperbark, and fissured bark.

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Cheers Pup

[Bek]

Thanks for posting the photos I took another one of mine today - hopefully with a clearer outline. The leaves seem very small for callistemon, or at least any callistemon I've seen. Is there some sort of hybrid between the two, with the smaller leaves of the Melaleuca and the more fissured bark of the callistemon?
Whatever the case, is the care generally the same for both?

[squizzy]

Cheers for the info Pup,

Is there a Mel that has fissure bark? Maybe M.bracteata?

My claret tops doesn't seem to be a real paper type bark yet?????? Will that develop?

Squizz

[Jason]

It kind of looks like a lepto to me, Leptospermum petersonii or Lemon Scented Tea Tree?

Similar bark, and very similar leaf shape

[Bek]

It kind of looks like a lepto to me, Leptospermum petersonii or Lemon Scented Tea Tree?

Similar bark, and very similar leaf shape

Hmm.. after a bit of Googling, it's leaves DO look similar to the Leptospermum. I'll do a leaf crush test in the morning and see if it smells lemony.

[Jason]

It kind of looks like a lepto to me, Leptospermum petersonii or Lemon Scented Tea Tree?

Similar bark, and very similar leaf shape

Hmm.. after a bit of Googling, it's leaves DO look similar to the Leptospermum. I'll do a leaf crush test in the morning and see if it smells lemony.

It looks similar to the couple that I have, just thought I'd throw the idea out there