Mānuka

Scientific name

Leptospermum scoparium

Physical Features

Height - usually a 2-5m shrub, can grow to a 15m tree.

Width - minimum of 3m for a mature tree

Description - an evergeen, with dense branches and small leaves. Often confused with Kānuka. Mānuka has pricklier leaf tips.

Location - everywhere in Aotearoa, though more common along the drier east coast.

Uses

Māori would often use Mānuka for hand tools. The bark can be used for smoking meats. It can be cultivated to make honey when the honey bees collect pollen from the Mānuka flower.

Planting

Best in Spring/Summer and Autumn.

Purakau

Mānuka is mean, Kānuka is kind! Mānuka is used for many health issues as it has many medicinal qualities. It is the protector in the forest protecting new seedlings and the Native NZ Orchid.