Leptospermum spinescens      family MYRTACEAE

Twisted, open shrub to 1 m high by 1 m across with corky bark and bright green, narrow-elliptical leaves to 1.5 cm. Spines on the ends of branchlets. Crowded white flowers, 1.5 cm in diameter, with green centres, occur in spring. Fruits tend to be buried in the thick bark.

Distribution: WA.

Propagation From seed or cuttings.

Cultivation See note on genus. Prickly shrub. It is essentially a novelty plant. Will tolerate frosts and requires reasonable drainage.

• Frost-hardy. (Plants given an this rating will tolerate frosts to -7°C in conditions of normal rainfall.)
• Rockery plants that reach more than 50 cm high.