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Leptospermum scoparium [ lep - toh - SPER - mammy , sko - PAIR - ee - um ] is a flowering evergreen bush belonging to the Myrtaceae kinfolk along with thebottle brush Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
It ’s native to New Zealand and Australia , where it ’s popularly grown out of doors for its unparalleled , delicate efflorescence .
Often tame for mānuka beloved because of its antibacterial properties , bring about when honeybee gather the nectar from its flowers .
In the late 1700s , Captain Cook search the South Pacific and gave his crew teatime brew from the leaves of this plant .
This led to the unwashed name New Zealand Tea Tree which is far easier to pronounce than its scientific name .
You may hear this plant phone by other common names including :
Besides using the leaves to brew Camellia sinensis , parts of the flora have served other uses .
New Zealanders used the wood to make handles for tool , while the sawdust cater feel when smoke centre or fish .
While it ’s not the easiest plant life to grow , a few basic care tips should help increase the chance of successful finish .
Leptospermum Scoparium Care
Size & Growth
The New Zealand Tea Tree produces dense , bushy foliage and reaches a altitude of about 3 ’ ft .
It ’s a medium grower and may take several years to achieve a height of more than a foot .
When fully mature , the plant resembles a small tree with delicate branches .
The leave are grayish or dour unripened and incredibly tiny .
Flowering and Fragrance
The flowers come out with five flower petal or dual petal with a ruffled appearance .
It produces showy whitened peak to pink or ruddy .
The industrial plant ’s bloom sentence begins in January .
The peak also last a long sentence , remaining on the plant until May .
Due to the seniority of the flush , they make great cutting for vases .
Light & Temperature
L. scoparium uprise best in full sun to partial ghost when aim outdoors .
It should never originate outdoors in regions where temperature drop below 40 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 4 ° carbon ) .
If train indoors , aim the plant near a window where it can get shining sunshine throughout the aurora and afternoon .
Indoor plants should still come out for the summertime .
The outside air is good for the New Zealand Tea Tree if temperatures do n’t dismiss below 40 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 4 ° blow ) .
When the temperatures jump to throw off , bring it indoors .
It can persist in a cooler spot in the house through the winter , but it should still get lots of sunlight from a south - facing or west - facing window .
Cultivated within USDA hardiness zone 9 and 11 ( USDA Zone ) .
Watering and Feeding
Water the plant evenly throughout the total year .
As an other fuckup , this plant remains active throughout the twelvemonth .
The first buds typically start to appear in November .
After the buds look , assure the plant continues to get plenty of water system .
irrigate the works every other week using a liquid garden plant food until the end of summer when the flower die .
Soil & Transplanting
The New Zealand Tea Tree grows well in regular soil with good drainage .
To improve the drainage of poor territory , bring some peat moss and sand .
transpose the industrial plant between early springiness and late fountain to freshen the soil .
If the root seem crowd after remove the plant , study moving to a larger pot .
Root decomposition may take place in overly dampish soil .
Grooming
After the plant bloom , clip back growth to manage the shape of the plant .
TIP : prune the plant back in the fall is also a good time to take cuttings for multiplication .
To trim the works , use a twosome of shrewd scissors or clipper .
Start with the top of the works , and shave no more than one - third of the plant .
Related : Caring For Leucadendron Plants
How to Propagate Manuka
Use cutting to get new industrial plant have flowers with the same color as the female parent industrial plant .
When develop from seed , the plant may produce different colouring material of peak .
Within about two months , the cuttings should take radical .
Covering the cutting with charge card may speed up the rooting process .
Tea Tree Pests or Disease Problems?
The New Zealand Tea Tree rarely endure from pest infestations , but aphid and whiteflies occasionally take over the plant .
If aphid pests seem , spray the plant with a mixture of warm water and soap .
Treat whitefly problems with an insecticide .
Besides pestilence infestations , the plant may develop red patches and its leaves .
The patches are a polarity of fungal growth . Use a fungicide to intercept it from open .
If the leaves come out to shake off , the plant is n’t catch enough water .
Increase the frequence of watering until the plant life ’s health better .
Suggested Manuka Myrtle Uses
This light , airy bush makes a capital addition to a large enclosed porch or conservatoire .
In the summer , move the flora to a balcony or patio where it can get fresh air and more fair weather .
Manuka all-important oil is obtained from the leaves and branchlet of the works by means of steam distillment .
