Tea Tree - which species to plant?

[SamDavis]

I'm planning to plant a row of tea-tree as a border along a fence (and also one or two for aviary planting). I want to harvest it for nest material. Looking at native plant websites I'm lost as to which species are best. Recommendations please?

[jimstreet]

Dunno about nest material but I bought some Lemon-Scented Tea Tree from Bunnings based on reading some forum posts. Haven't had a chance to plant it out yet.

[Tiaris]

Sam, I strongly recommend Melaleuca styphiloides as an excellent one to plant and regularly harvest. I have a small group of them growing here for exactly that purpose. Makes great cut brush holding leaves long-term in the aviary & this pruning just encourages thicker & more vigorous regrowth for next time.

[Tiaris]

I should add that M.stypheloides will grow to about 5 metres if allowed to do so but I just keep mine pruned to about 2m. So it would need to be kept in check in an aviary.

[arthur]

Ditto

Quite prickly, but that is a plus

And it comes highly recommended by the local Spice Finch population who prefer it over the other 'tea trees' I have planted in the yard

Haven't seen it in local nurseries for a number of years though

[VR1Ton]

I've got a few seeds floating around here somewhere if you need, but it grow a little bigger than 5m (about 4 times that). It is very fine seed, & you would need to seed a tray, then very carefully prick out the seedlings & tube up. You would probably have more luck through a landcare or forestry nursery than a garden centre.

[SamDavis]

Thanks...
Just checked and it seems our local wholesale nursery (Downes Nursery Stocklist) has M.stypheloides. They also have a selection of Leptospermums which I think is what I've always called "Tea Tree" but looking at pictures compared to big ones out in the bush is confusing. Google tells me L.petersonii is the lemon scented tea tree jimstreet has. Maybe I'll get one each of M.stypheloides and L.petersonii for the aviary and a bunch of the M.stypheloides for harvesting. I also have 2 Grevilleas for the aviary.

Thanks for the offer of seed VR1Ton but to be honest I have enough trouble sprouting finch mix!

Any other must haves for the aviary? Particularly if they're on the Downes Nursery Stocklist

[Tiaris]

Leptospermum Pink Cascade is a good one for growing in the aviary. Nice dense soft foliage which doesn't get too high (1.5-2m). No good for cut brush though.
Lemon-scented is ok for aviary plant if pruned to dense habit but no good as cut brush either - drops foliage quickly.

[Tiaris]

Sorry, I meant Cardwell not Pink Cascade.

[SamDavis]

Sorry, I meant Cardwell not Pink Cascade.

Thanks Graham. That would be Leptospermum flavescens. I'll get one of these as well.