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Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' - A fast growing shrub or multi-trunked small tree that reaches up to 15 feet tall by 20 feet wide with dark rough gray bark. Although attractive in flower, the most stunning aspect of this plant is its foliage. It has flexible sprays of 1 inch long soft dark olive-green leaves that are flushed a dark burgundy maroon. This color is especially pronounced in the outer edges of the canopy where they receive full sun. In the summer on new growth are produced the fragrant creamy white 3/4 inch wide flowers.
Plant in full sun and water little to occasionally. Tolerant to short duration temperatures down to 20°F to 25°F. Is drought and seashore tolerant and resistant to deer predation.
Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' is reportedly a 2nd generation seedling from a seedling of Leptospermum macrocarpum 'Copper Spray' (also known as L. nitidum 'Copper Sheen'). Leptospermum macrocarpum is a large-fruited species endemic to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. The name for the genus is a Latinized Greek compound from 'leptos' meaning slender and 'spermum' meaning "seed" in reference to the small seeds and the specific epithet comes from the ancient Greek words 'makros' meaning "long" and and 'karpos' meaning "fruit". This plant has similar look to and is sometimes confused with the red leafed Peppermint Tree Agonis flexuosa 'Jervis Bay Afterdark'. We have grown this attractive plant since 2003 from stock plants originally purchased from Monterey Bay Nursery.
This information about Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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