Plant of the Month – “Showy Tea Tree”
Leptospermum speciosum
by Cooloola City Farm Nursery
Our Plant of the Month is “Leptospermum speciosum”, commonly known as “Showy Tea Tree”, which is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1-3 metres or a tree that can grow to 5-6 metres with pale bark that sheds in strips.
The younger stems are covered in fine hairs. This plant has five-petalled white flowers in heads of four to eight.
Flowering mainly occurs from August to September and the fruit is a woody capsule around 5mm in diameter, with the remains of the sepal attached which falls off when mature.
Leptospermum speciosum enjoys full sun and attracts birds, bees and butterflies.
Also, this plant is widely known and grown for the highest level of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) initially present in the nectar of Manuka flowers, and harvested to make the highest grade quality honey.
We do realise that COVID-19 is still going to be ever present in our lives, but we at City Farm are trying our best to live within the boundaries.
We would like to reiterate also that we are a Cash Only organisation.
City Farm Nursery is located opposite the Community Centre on Tin Can Bay Road, open Tuesday to Thursdays 8am-3pm. Phone (07) 5486-2304, email: ccfni09@gmail.com, website: cooloolacityfarm.org
