It grows as a spreading tree up to 20 m (70 ft) tall, with its trunk covered by a white, beige and grey thick papery bark.

Native to New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and coastal eastern Australia, from Botany Bay in New South Wales northwards into Queensland, M. quinquenervia grows in swamps, on floodplains and near rivers and estuaries, often on silty soil.

[3][4][5][6][7]The broad-leaved paperbark was first formally described in 1797 by the Spanish naturalist Antonio José Cavanilles, who gave it the name Metrosideros quinquenervia.

[11] In Australia, Melaleuca quinquenervia occurs along the east coast, from Cape York in Queensland to Botany Bay in New South Wales.

In the Sydney region it grows alongside trees such as swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) and bangalay (E. botryoides).

[11] It is a component of the savannah of western New Caledonia, scattered trees dotting the grassland habitat and its spread through this landscape might have been facilitated by human fire regimes.

Remnants in Australia are not protected in reserves, with majority of its woodland located in private property where clearing continues.

[15] Melaleuca quinquenervia resprouts vigorously from epicormic shoots after bushfire, and has been recorded flowering within weeks of being burnt.

[12] The flowers serve as a rich source of nectar for other organisms, including fruit bats, a wide range of insect and bird species,[7] such as the scaly-breasted lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus).

[28] This idea is supported by the results of a study on Melaleuca done by Pratt et al. (2005) showing that damage by herbivores reduced success in the following season as the reproductive structures declined by 80% with 54% less fruits.

These insects are native to Australia and serve to reduce the growth and reproduction of M. quinquenervia by feeding on young expanding leaves and phloem of the tree.

[31] For example, Melaleuca is constantly thinning itself of small branches and twigs and this causes many seeds to fall all the time along with the litter,[32] so it is always dispersing its potential offspring.

Melaleuca is also capable of living in disturbed habitats such as improved pasture, idle farmland,[26] and canal affected areas.

[34] The paper-like bark is used traditionally for making coolamons and shelters and for wrapping baked food and lining ground ovens.

[38] In its native Australia, it is excellent as a windbreak, screening tree and food source for a wide range of local insect and bird species.

[37] It is regarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as an invasive weed in Florida where it was introduced to drain swamps.

The oil is reported in herbalism and natural medicine to work as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent, to help with bladder infections, respiratory troubles and catarrh.