Australian Native Plants

  Leptospermum scoparium (Broom Tea-tree)


Leptospermum scoparium photo
Leptospermum scoparium in Cullen Point Scenic Reserve in Marlborough Region, South Island of New Zealand

Photograph by Krzysztof Golik. Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Leptospermum scoparium photo
Leptospermum scoparium in Cullen Point Scenic Reserve in Marlborough Region, South Island of New Zealand

Photograph by Krzysztof Golik. Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Leptospermum scoparium photo
Leptospermum scoparium - pink cultivar

Photograph by Elisa.rolle. Some rights reserved.    (view image details)




BROOM TEA-TREE FACTS

distribution map showing range of Leptospermum scoparium in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Broom Tea-tree

Other Names
Manuka

Description
The Broom Tea-tree is a shrub or tree growing to 5 m tall, but can grow taller. The leaves are small and grow 7 mm to 15 mm long and 2 mm to 6 mm wide. Flowers are produced in spring and summer from September to March. The flowers are white with 5 petals and about 1 cm in diameter. The fruit capsules are 6 mm to 9 mm in diameter.

Habitat
heathland, shrubland, along watercourses, swamp margins

Distribution
eastern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania. It is also found in New Zealand.

Growth Characteristics
Height: 1m - 5m
Spread: 2m - 3m



Classification
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Leptospermum
Species:scoparium
Common Name:Broom Tea-tree


Relatives in same Genus
  Leptospermum brachyandrum
  Leptospermum continentale
  Leptospermum coriaceum
  Leptospermum erubescens
  Leptospermum grandiflorum
  Leptospermum laevigatum
  Leptospermum lanigerum
  Leptospermum liversidgei
  Leptospermum macrocarpum
  Leptospermum morrisonii
  Leptospermum myrsinoides
  Leptospermum nitidum
  Leptospermum obovatum
  Leptospermum petersonii
  Leptospermum polygalifolium
  Leptospermum rotundifolium
  Leptospermum rupestre
  Leptospermum spectabile
  Leptospermum squarrosum
  Leptospermum turbinatum