Botanical name:

Leptospermum scoparium

Common name(s):

Manuka, White tea tree, kahikātoa

About:

Manuka is a common small prickly shrub or, in some cases, a small tree. This plant features distinctive flaky bark and bears masses of oval-shaped pointed leaves that can be striking in appearance. The flowers produced by the Manuka plant are typically white or display a pinkish hue with red centers, creating a lovely visual contrast. The leaves themselves are quite hard, measuring between 5 to 20mm long and 1 to 8mm wide, and they possess a prickly texture that can be challenging to grasp without care.

Natural habitat:

Abundant from coastal situations to low alpine habitats.

Growing environment:

Clay, Sun, Drought, Frost, Wind, Coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Indigenous to New Zealand and Australia. Most Australian forms of L. scoparium do not match the range seen in New Zealand. However, plants from Tasmania are very similar to, if not identical with some South Island form.

Height: 5m

Flowering:

Year round with a red/pink or white coloured flower.

Fruiting:

The capsules are long lasting & persistent so mature plants possess at least some capsules year round. Fruit a dry 5-7mm wide capsule.

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Flowers, Riparian plantings, Forests, Pioneer Plantings  & fire wood.

How to grow:

Very easy from fresh seed. Seed must be sown fresh, even if left for a few weeks before sowing viability can drop, especially if seed is allowed to dry out. Very difficult from cuttings.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though