Ericaceous (Acid) compost

Melaleuca alternifolia – Tea Tree Plant

Rare to find.
A quick growing evergreen tree or shrub growing up to 7m tall. It has fine, thinly pointed green leaves and its flowers are white fluffy bottlebrush-like and appear in summer.

This incredibly powerful medicinal plant has a lovely scent when the leaves are touched/crushed – the tea tree oil smell.

The trees grow well in coastal conditions but can also withstand light frosts. Fresh sprigs rubbed onto windowsills and kitchen counters help control flies and mosquitoes. It will thrive in any soil but it needs full sun and a deeply dug and well-composted hole in which to get established. The secret is to cut it back to quite harshly every two or three years, to keep it vigorous, tidy and attractive.

The Tea tree is native to N Australia, S New Guinea and the Moluccas. · It is a hardy, medium-sized tree with papery bark, in several layers.

Medicinal Uses.

An easy-to-make lotion of leaves, sprigs and pieces of bark is a superb wash or spray for bites, rashes, scratches, heat rash, itchiness, fungal infections, acne and oily skin, and can be used as a rinse for oily hair and athlete’s foot.

For sale in South Africa. Couriered nationwide.