Leptospermum Scoparium

New Zealand Tea Tree or Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium)

This extremely delicate, abundantly flowering, and exotic New Zealand tea tree, world-famous as Manuka (yes, the very plant from whose flowers bees collect the famous and valuable Manuka honey!), is a true natural wonder for your home! It stands out with a dense crown and small, needle-like leaves that release a wonderful, essential, and sharp aroma when rubbed. In spring and summer, this shrub literally becomes covered with countless delicate flowers (in white, pink, or red shades), creating a breathtaking visual cloud. It is a refined and dynamic houseplant (and simply fantastic as a terrace plant in summer) that will add a romantic, airy, and Mediterranean garden atmosphere to any interior. It makes a very original and valuable gift for flowering plant lovers and anyone who wants to enjoy the breath of distant New Zealand nature in their home!

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

• ☀️ Light: Maximum bright light and direct sunlight. For the tea tree to maintain a dense crown and bloom spectacularly, it vitally needs a lot of sun! A south or southwest-facing windowsill is absolutely the best choice. In a dark place, it will not bloom, will start dropping leaves, and will become leggy.

• 💧 Watering: Regular and extremely attentive. Here is the golden rule: the tea tree’s roots must never, under any circumstances, dry out completely! Even a single drying out can be fatal for this plant. Keep the soil evenly and lightly moist. At the same time, be careful to avoid waterlogging in the saucer. It is best to water with soft (filtered or settled) water.

• 🌡️ Temperature/Humidity: Loves fresh air and well-ventilated rooms. In summer, it is highly recommended to take this plant outside into the sun and fresh air on a balcony, terrace, or garden. However, to ensure it blooms again next year, it must have a cool and bright dormancy period in winter (ideally around 5–10°C). In hot, dry rooms with radiators during winter, it will quickly perish.

• 🐾 Pets: Friendly. This fragrant and flowering shrub is non-toxic and safe to have in your home with curious cats and dogs.

🏠 MOST SUITABLE LOCATION:

• Sunny terrace, balcony, or garden in summer (where it can enjoy direct sun, natural humidity, and fresh breeze).

• Cool but very bright veranda, glazed loggia, or stairwell in winter (an absolutely ideal and vitally necessary place for the dormancy period).

• Bright and cooler windowsill (as a beautiful flowering accent if you can maintain stable humidity).

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Height: 25-30 cm

• Pot diameter: 12 cm

⚠️ Note: Plants are living organisms, so each specimen and flower color may differ from what is expected. Important to know: after flowering, it is highly recommended to prune and trim the tea tree a little – this will help maintain a beautiful, compact shrub shape and encourage new shoot growth, on which flower buds will form again next season. When pruning, do not cut into the old, woody leafless parts, as new shoots will no longer grow from there! Don’t forget to occasionally rub the small leaves to fill the room with the wonderful scent of essential oil.