LEPTOSPERMUM NOVAE ANGLIAE SEEDS NEW ENGLAND TEA TREE IN PORT ELIZABETH

Leptospermum is a genus of about 80 species of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. Most species are native to Australia, with the greatest diversity in the south of the continent; but one species extends to New Zealand, another to Malaysia, and Leptospermum recurvum is native to Malaysia. They are shrubs or occasionally small trees, reaching 1–8 m tall, rarely up to 20 m, with dense branching.           The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple, sharp-tipped, and small, in most species not over 1 cm long. The flowers are up to 3 cm diameter, with five white, pink or red petals. The common name tea tree for the Leptospermum species derives from the practice of early Australian settlers who soaked the leaves of several species in boiling water to make an herbal tea rich in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). It is said that Captain Cook brewed tea of Leptospermum leaves to prevent scurvy among his crews. Leptospermum novae-angliae commonly known as New England Tea Tree is a beautiful shrub that grows 1.8m to 2.4m tall. It is hardy through Zones 8 to 11 and is best grown in full sun. The flowers range from white to pink and are 10mm to 12mm in diameter and appear during mid-spring.