Leptospermum rupestre, commonly known as alpine tea-tree or prostrate tea-tree,[1] is a flowering shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It is endemic to Tasmania. In alpine areas it assumes a prostrate habit while in subalpine areas it appears as a large shrub.
Leptospermum rupestre is a common alpine and subalpine shrub in Tasmania. The growth habit varies, at higher exposed altitudes it is a prostrate plant up to high. At lower altitudes it can become a large shrub to high. It has small, blunt, shiny dark green, oval to elliptic shaped leaves, long. The white flowers are small wide, 5 petalled, with an open habit and flower in profusion in leaf axils during summer. The reddish branches become mat-forming over rocks. The small seed capsules are about in diameter.[2] [3] [4]
Leptospermum rupestre was first formally described in 1840 by botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker and the description was published in Icones Plantarum.[5] [6] Robert Brown observed it growing on rocky outcrops on Mount Wellington and nearby mountains. The word rupestre is derived from the Latin word rupestris,[7] meaning rocky, referring to the habitat where it was found.[5]
This species is endemic to Tasmania, found growing in a sunny situation on light to medium soils.[1]
It is one of the hardiest species of its genus and is suitable for cultivation outdoors.[8]