General Description/History

Tea trees are popular native garden plants in Australia, but most cut flower forms are hybrids of the NZ species L. scoparium. Branches contain many small, sharp-tipped leaves and small (2 to 4 cm) flowers that tend to be borne at the ends of branches. Flowers have 5 petals and can be white, pink, or red. Breeding programs in the US, NZ and Australia have developed many colourful forms, including deep pink, and red/green striped petals. Double-flowering forms are also available that resemble cherry blossoms.

Leptospermum is grown in plantations. Supplies come mostly from Victoria, NSW and Qld.

What to look for

• Buy when at least 1/2 the flowers are open and showing full colour as buds do not open in the vase;
• Avoid bunches with closed flowers;
• Shake bunches late in the season (spring) and avoid those with flower drop.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem and wash stem ends thoroughly.
3. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem and place in water immediately.
4. Do not bash or split stems.
5. Always use a preservative as this will help buds to open.
6. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every day.
7. Tea tree is very sensitive to ethylene. Keep them away from fruit, car exhausts and cigarette smoke

Interesting Facts about this Flower

The common name of tea tree comes from the practice of early Australian settlers of soaking the leaves of several species in boiling water to make a substitute tea rich in Vitamin C.

Botanical Name: Leucospermum cordifolium, L. tottum, L. lieare,L. conocarpodendron.

Common Names: Catherine Wheel., Cordis, Firewheels, Leucospermum, Pincushions

Stem Length: 30 to 60 cm

Country of Origin: South Africa

Available Colours: Orange, Red, Yellow

Season: Summer,Autumn,Winter,Spring

Availability: January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,Decemeber