Lemon-Scented Tea Tree

Leptospermum petersonii

Also known as Lemon Tea Tree, Lemon-Scented Teatree, Peterson's Tea Tree

At a glance

Family

Myrtaceae (the myrtle family)

Type

Evergreen shrub or small tree

Parts used

Leaves (fresh or dried), steam-distilled essential oil

Size

10 to 20 feet tall, with a narrow, upright habit

Bloom

Small white five-petaled flowers in late spring to summer

Habitat

Native to the coastal rainforest margins and dry sclerophyll forests of eastern Australia, from Queensland down into New South Wales

Acquisition

Grow or buy

Traditional remedies in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Eases stuffy congestion

Freshens and cleanses skin

Naturally deters insects

Lifts and calms the mood

Traditional uses

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Long before it found its way into candles and cleaning sprays, this narrow-leafed tree grew wild along the eastern edge of Australia, where its crushed foliage released a fragrance so sharply lemony that early settlers and Aboriginal communities alike used it to freshen the air, deter biting insects, and clear a heavy head. Bush tradition held that a handful of the bruised leaves, rubbed on the skin or steeped into a wash, could cool irritation and clean a wound. Its intensely citrus oil later drew the attention of the perfume and cleaning-product trades, but in the home it has always stayed close to its simplest role, a fragrant leaf for a stuffy nose and a sluggish spirit.

How to grow & use it

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The full apothecary for Lemon-Scented Tea Tree

Traditional remedies and step-by-step preparations, a complete growing guide, and how to harvest, dry, and store it, all unlocked with HerbLens Unlimited.

✦Remedies & preparations
✦ Growing guide
✦Harvest & storage

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Pairs well with

✦Lemon Myrtle
✦Eucalyptus
✦Peppermint

Substitutes

✦Lemon Myrtle
✦Lemongrass

Choose it when

“When you want the brightness of lemon in the garden without growing a single citrus tree.”

Did you know?

Despite its common name, this tree is only a distant cousin of Melaleuca alternifolia, the true 'tea tree' of tea tree oil fame. Its lemon scent comes from citral, the same aromatic compound found in lemongrass and lemon verbena, but Leptospermum petersonii often carries an even higher concentration of it, which is why a single brushed leaf can perfume an entire garden path.

Safety

This plant's essential oil is highly concentrated and should never be taken internally; dilute before topical use and patch test first. Like other concentrated oils, it can be harmful to cats and other pets if diffused nearby.