Fauna
Plant

Narrow-leaved Paperbark

Melaleuca alternifolia

Also known as Tea Tree, Australian Tea Tree, Snow-in-summer

Narrow-leaved paperbark is a distinctive small tree renowned as the primary source of commercial tea tree oil, packing its slender foliage with potent antiseptic terpenes. It thrives in poorly drained floodplains and along creek banks, often forming dense, fragrant thickets cushioned by thick carpets of fallen papery bark. In spring and early summer, branches erupt with fluffy white bottlebrush flowers that provide abundant nectar for native bees, lorikeets, and flying foxes.

AromaticWetlandMedicinal
Narrow-leaved Paperbark reference
(c) Bruce Cathie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bruce Cathie · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Sawfly larvae
  • Psyllids
  • Chrysomelid beetles
ThreatsLand clearing, altered hydrological regimes, and commercial overharvesting
HabitatsSwampy flats, riparian zones, and subtropical floodplains
Life span30–60 years
Classification
  1. OrderMyrtales
  2. FamilyMyrtaceae
  3. GenusMelaleuca
  4. SpeciesMelaleuca alternifolia
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Foliage and essential oils are toxic to dogs, cats, and humans if ingested; do not consume.
Why it is dangerous
Contains high concentrations of terpinen-4-ol and other volatile terpenes that cause vomiting, muscle tremors, and nervous depression if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for peeling whitish-grey papery bark and soft, narrow leaves under three millimeters wide.
What to do
Observe the tree freely, but ensure pets do not chew the fallen foliage or bark.
Responsible observation
  • Aroma check: Rub a fallen leaf between your fingers to release the sharp, unmistakable medicinal fragrance.
  • Bark texture: Gently feel the spongy, multi-layered whitish bark that insulates the living trunk from fire.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…