Leptospermum scoparium (manuka, "Gyoryubai")

Japanese name: ギョリュウバイ （御柳梅）
Scientific name: Leptospermum scoparium

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 2–5 m tall, though in its native habitat some are said to reach 15 m.
The branches are dense and it grows thickly.
Young branches and leaves bear fine hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, lanceolate, 0.4–2 cm long and 2–6 mm wide, with entire margins, hard and leathery, with pointed tips.
The flowers are borne 1–3 at a time in the leaf axils or at the tips of branches or short shoots.
The flowers are white to pink, 5-petaled, about 1.5 cm across, with many stamens.
There are garden cultivars with double flowers and with red or pink flowers.
The fruit is a woody capsule.

[Uses]
The leaves were used as a substitute for tea.
The wood is hard and is used for tool handles and similar items.
Wood chips are used to flavor smoked foods.
It is also used for essential oil and medicine, and is useful as a honey plant; the honey is called manuka honey.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained place.
It is not very cold-hardy, but tolerates light frost.
In warm regions it can overwinter outdoors if protected from strong cold wind and frost.
In cold regions, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors to a sunny place in winter.
It dislikes excess moisture and tolerates dryness.
For potted plants, from spring to autumn water thoroughly after the soil surface dries, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
However, if it runs short of water and dries out completely, the leaves fall and the plant dies.
Little fertilizer is best and none is particularly necessary, but if given, apply a small amount of slow-release fertilizer or liquid fertilizer in spring and autumn.
To reshape it compactly, cut it back to 1/2–1/3 of its height right after flowering in spring.
Flower buds for the following spring form in autumn, so do not prune after autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The name derives from the leaves resembling those of Gyoryu (tamarisk) and the flowers resembling those of ume (Japanese apricot).

View this page in Japanese (日本語)