Small to large spreading tree with weeping, thin branchlets. Leaves alternate, mostly 10-20 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, thin, widest at or below the middle, shedding hair early. Flower spikes open, 2-3 cm wide; mostly winter. Flowers creamy to green. Fruit capsules mostly about 4 mm wide.

Grown in warmer regions. The name is frequently spelt incorrectly as M. leucadendron.

WA, NT, Qld.

M. quinquenervia is a similar paperbark but with shorter leaves only 3-7 cm long and 0.8-2 cm wide; it is sometimes grown in cooler districts. Other similar species include M. viridiflora with spikes wider, 35-60 mm, and floral tube 3-3.5 mm long; M. argentea has few (5-7) stamens per cluster.

VIC: Balwyn (Maranoa Gds).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Myrtaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.