Leptospermum ericoides — Practical Plants

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Life cycle: perennial
Foliage: evergreen
Woodiness: woody
Height: 3 m
Fertility: Insects
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Insects

Uses

Edible uses

A refreshing tea can be made from the young shoot tips^[1]^[2].

Product or use: Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The leaves and young shoots are antihalitosis, antiphlogistic, astringent, depurative, sedative and stomachic.

Product or use: Antihalitosis

Product or use: Antiphlogistic

Product or use: Astringent

Product or use: Depurative

Product or use: Sedative

Product or use: Stomachic

Material uses

Wood - hard, durable. Used for bridges, shingles etc^[7]^[8]. When burned, it gives off a delicious aroma^[4].

Product or use: Wood

Environment

Range: New Zealand.
Habitat: Lowland to montane shrubland, especially on margins, North and South Islands^[6].
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: no shade
Water: moderate
Hardiness: Zone 8+
Soil textures: sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH: very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage: well drained
Tolerances: high wind
Wind: Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and give some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors. The seed remains viable for many years. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8 cm with a heel, early August in a frame. Over-winter in the greenhouse for its first year and plant out after the last expected frosts. Good percentage^[9]. Cuttings of almost mature wood, 4 - 5 cm with a heel, October/November in a frame. Good percentage^[9].

Cultivation

Succeeds in almost any neutral or acid soil of good or reasonable quality, preferring a light sandy loam and full sun^[3]. Grows best in an acid sandy soil^[5]. Prefers a position sheltered from hot or cold drying winds^[3]. This species is not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c, though there are montane forms that might be hardier^[5]. It only succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain^[3]. Resentful of root disturbance, plants should be pot grown and planted out in their final positions as soon as possible^[3]. The flowers have a delicate sweet perfume^[4]. Plants do not regenerate from old wood^[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus^[3].

Leptospermum laevigatumCoast Tea Tree
Leptospermum lanigerum
Leptospermum liversidgeiLemon-Scented Tea Tree
Leptospermum petersoniiLemon Tea Tree

References

Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
↩
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
↩
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
↩1 ↩2
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
↩1 ↩2
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00
↩
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
↩
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
↩
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
↩1 ↩2