MANUKA MYRTLE / BROOM TEA TREE (Leptospermum scoparium) Seeds

Leptospermum scoparium (manuka, manuka myrtle, New Zealand tea tree, broom tea tree, or just tea tree or leptospermum) is a shrub or small tree native to New Zealand and South East Australia.

It is a prolific scrub-type tree and is often one of the first species to regenerate on cleared land. It is typically a shrub growing to 2–5 m tall, but can grow into a moderately sized tree, up to 15 m or so in height.

It is evergreen, with dense branching and small leaves 7–20 mm long and 2–6 mm broad, with a short spine tip. The wood was often used for tool handles.

White flowers, tinged with pink and rarely red, 1 cm in diameter, occur in spring and early summer. Suitable for heavy shade.
Frost-hardy. (plants given an this rating will tolerate frosts to -7°c in conditions of normal rainfall.)
Suitable hedge or screen plants.

Bush food: The fresh, pungent leaves are a fragrant and refreshing tea substitute. Manuka sawdust imparts a delicious flavour when used for smoking meats and fish. It is cultivated for manuka honey, and for the pharmaceutical industry.

Bush medicine: It is anti-inflammatory. It promotes the expectoration of catarrh from the respiratory tract. MANUKA is a very effective antimicrobial and has a range of therapeutic actions and medicinal uses similar to Melaleuca alternifolia.

Traditionally use to treat colds by inhaling the steam from boiling manuka leaves, rubbing the bark on their skin to treat skin conditions, a making an oil from the leaves to be applied topically as an antiseptic.

Germination: Germination usually occurs within 2-5 weeks. Smoke treatment may improve germination rate.

Although seed can be sown most of the year in Australian seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°c