Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Leptospermum scoparium

Other Names

New Zealand Tea-tree, Manuka Myrtle, Manuka

Family

Myrtaceae

Flowering season

April to July

English distribution

It is a found mainly in Greater London and the Isles of

Scilly

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Broom Tea-tree

Habitat

It is a neophyte which was brought to the UK from

Australia in the 1770s.

It has been known in the wild on the island of Tresco since

the mid 1930s.

It grows in waste places and on hedge banks..

Description

Broom Tea-tree is a perennial, evergreen shrub growing

up to 4m.

The flowers have 5 white, pink and red petals and are up

to 25mm across.

They have an outer ring made up of numerous stamens.

There is a large central capitate stigms above a 5 celled

ovary.

Fruits are dark brown 5 celled capsules.

Leaves are light grean, thick and slightly fragrant

when crushed.

Stems are light grey and woody.