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A dense shrub growing to 1.5 metres tall and 1 metre wide.
It is reportedly the result of a hybrid cross between Leptospermum rotundifolium and another registered Leptospermum cultivar.
Leptospermum spp. have simple and alternate leaves. In thsi cultivar, small leaves are narrow to elliptic, to 8 mm long by 4 mm wide, hairless and light green in colour.
Leptospermum typically produce solitary flowers, or in small groups of 2s and 3s or more, within the leaf axils. Flowers have 5 petals and sepals and have a symmetrical rotate shape. Stamens are produced in groups of 5 which surround 1 carpel (female part). The prominent feature in Leptospermum is the hypanthium, a cup or vase-shaped receptacle that supports the flower.
In this cultivar, the flowers are produced solitarily, to 20 mm in diameter, vibrant purple in colour, occurring from August to October. It can flower very heavily.
In the garden, this small shrub grows best in full sun and the author’s plant is thriving in heavy moist soil that only receives sun from mid-day onwards and no pests have been noticed.
In the author’s garden (north-west Sydney), this plant has produced another flush of flowers in February 2022 after a particular wet 2021 Spring/Summer in Sydney.
An attractive plant in flower and well worth growing for it showy ‘purple’ flowers and is ideally suited to small gardens growing in a wide range of soils and climates.
Light pruning will keep it compact and increase the flower display.
Must be propagated from cuttings to maintain form and characteristics.
Most Leptospermum species are endemic to Australia where most are found in southern areas of the country and many make desirable garden plants. However, please note the following changes:
In 2023, the genus Leptospermum of about 90-100 species, was reclassified and reduced to about 34 species, occurring in south-east Asia, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. Australia now has at least 31 species, occurring mostly in the eastern states. NSW currently has 31 species. The remaining approximately 60 species, that were previously Leptospermum, are now classified in four new genera: Aggreflorum, Gaudium, Leptospermopsis and Apectospermum. Species in these new genera are titled as such on this website with the synonymous Leptospermum name also indicated, for clarity.
The many cultivars in existence are still titled under Leptospermum.
The nectar from the flowers of one species (L. scoparium) is harvested by bees, yielding honey, which is marketed as Manuka honey.
Many Leptospermum species have an ability to regenerate vegetatively after fire with suckering basal growth and branch-shoots. They will also regenerate by seed.
The general common name, Teatree, derives from the practice of early Australian settlers who soaked the leaves of several species in boiling water to make a herbal tea.
Leptospermum – derived from the Greek words leptos (λεπτός) meaning “thin”, “fine” or “slender” and sperma (σπέρμα) meaning “seed”, referring to the thin brown seeds of the genus.
‘Purple Haze’ – a name provided by Bywong Nursery and is named for the purple flowers.
This plant is reqistered with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (ACRA No.1595) The Applicant: Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery, on behalf of the ANPSA. Refer to the ACRA web site for L. ‘Purple Haze’ https://acra.biodiversity.services/info/rdetail/2141
Australian National Botanic Gardens – Leptospermum profile page https://www.anbg.gov.au/leptospermum/
Bywong Nursery – Leptospermum ‘Purple Haze’ product description page https://bywongnursery.com.au/products/leptospermum-purple-haze/