Leptospermum scoparium or 'manuka' is a shrub growing from 2 to 3 metres native to South Eastern Australia but well established in New Zealand from very early times. Captain Cook allegedly used it for brewing tea hence the common name. Leptospermum scoparium is essentially an Australian species native to the higher rainfall areas of Victoria and Tasmania.

It is a highly forgiving species able to withstand prolonged waterlogging, front-line coastal conditions and extended dry conditions. Another very desirable feature of this plant is that it is totally unpalatable to sheep which is why it was (up until recently) a serious agricultural pest plant in New Zealand. Kangaroos, wallabies, possums won't touch it either due to the prickly foliage and the astringent oil content.

This form of Leptospermum scoparium has been selected from front-line coastal (Victoria) and has been tested for its bio-activity level. This plant also performs exceptionally well far away from the coast

A genetically selected line of this population (TA-1) is available on request

This species is recognised as being bio-active and the honey yielded from its nectar provides honey with highly sought after medicinal properties which have been the foundation of a multi-million dollar industry in New Zealand. Australians are only just beginning to recognise the potential.  see http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2015/s4193258.htm and http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2016/s4401734.htm

Apart from all that, Leptospermum scoparium is an attractive free-flowering shrub well suited to a range of soils moderately alkaline to moderately acid. 

Bio-active Leptospermum species are ideal for growing in plantation development. In fact, the future of Australian bio-active honey production lies to a very large extent on the development and management of such plantations whether they be farm-based or larger industrial-scale projects.

We can advise on the development of such projects and can supply large scale tested and verified planting stock over a range of Leptospermum species in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

ERA is engaged in various Leptopspermum collaborative research projects to quantify the various desirable traits of a number of different species and also to collect material from superior individuals within superior communities for the development of seed orchards. Seedlings from these projects (at their various stages) will become available from early 2017 and continual improvement is anticipated thereafter.

 On-line orders pricing applies to orders up to 480 plants. Seedlings that are ordered for larger projects (over 480) will receive very generous volume discounts. Please enquire

Updated 2nd March 2016

Enquiries: Ted Allender 0428 146 203 (business hours)

see also Leptospermum Polygalifolium

Pricing Schedule for bioactive Leptospermum tubestock (Hikos)

(Not available in WA, Tasmania or NT),

Up to 500. Purchase on-line.

500 - 10,000 seedlings ex nursery. Freight by arrangement.

• Level 1. Basic genetics where the general wild population has been tested at a reconnaissance level. $0.95c each.
• Level 2. individual plants tested in the wild and seedlings are grown from seed harvested from the best 10% (i.e. highest DHA levels, form, health and vigour). $1.10c each.
• Level 3. Where the seedlings have been grown from seed and established in a professionally designed, replicated seed orchard stocked with clones grown from collections as per level 2 above. $1.50 - $2.00 each depending on species and predicted genetic gain. The 1st of 3 seed orchards will produce seed in 2018 with seedlings available in 2019. The remaining 2 seed orchards 1 year later.

(1) Orders over 10,000 priced by negotiation

(2) discounted specials on surplus Level 1. stock lines. Please ask. (ERA Nurseries 03 5572 2123)

(3) Includes GST

(4) Please note that we do not sell seed

For more Information go to;

www.leptospermum.com.au

Click on Map to Enlarge Image

Notes on Maps.

Generally, the concentrated clusters of markers represent the geographical range where this species occurs naturally. Outlying markers and geographically disassociated markers represent observations of the species in cultivation and/or recorded in herbaria etc.
 

Acknowledgment.

These maps are provided by, and are used with the permission of, Australia’s Virtual Herbarium (AVH)