Family: Myrtaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Can grow in regions with tropical and subtropical climates
- Other Melaleuca species are invasive
- May be unpalatable to animals
- Oils may be toxic or allergenic to people and animals
- Highly flammable; may increase fire risk in natural ecosystems and threaten structures
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms dense thickets in native range
- Reproduces by seeds
- Hybridizes with other Melaleuca species
- Seeds dispersed by wind, probably water and intentionally by people
- Seeds capsules may remain on trees for two or three years, forming a persistent canopy seed bank
- Able to coppice and resprout after cutting; tolerates fire
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Valued source of essential oil
- May prefer high light environments (could limit spread into intact forests)
- Mostly self-incompatible (self-pollinated plants have low seed set)
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Herbicides may provide effective control
