Family: Myrtaceae
Leptospermum spectabile (blood red tea-tree, Colo River tea tree) is a shrub native to New South Wales. They are commonly known as “tea trees” due to some European settlers of Australia using the leaves as a tea substitute in the past. It is also grown as a landscape shrub and may be grown in containers. It is reported to be a cultivation escape in New Zealand but has not been naturalized on any Hawaiian islands to date. Other species in this genus are invasive, and it reproduces by wind spread, woody, persistent seeds. It may retain and store seeds up in the canopy for long periods of time. These qualities place the plant in the evaluate category.
High Risk Traits:
- Cultivation escape in New Zealand
- Other species are invasive
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds in persistent woody capsules; likely dispersed by wind, and intentionally cultivated by people
- Riparian species likely also dispersed by water
- Persistent capsules may result in a persistent “canopy seed bank”
- Gaps in biological and ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- No negative impacts currently documented from escaped populations
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Seeds may be retained on plants for extended periods, limiting dispersal unless exposed to fire or drought