Tea Tree

Tea Tree 'Kiwi' (Leptospermum scoparium 'Kiwi') is a dwarf flowering shrub that brings colour without adding work. It settles at about 1m tall and 1m wide, carries bronze purple foliage all year, and covers itself in deep pink flowers through spring. Compact enough for a large pot, tough enough for an exposed coastal fence line.

Why you'll love it

• A genuine dwarf. Roughly 1m by 1m, so it holds its scale without constant cutting back.
• Colour on two fronts. Bronze purple foliage all year, then deep pink flowers in spring.
• Built for hard sites. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant, frost hardy and drought tolerant once established.
• It feeds the garden. Native bees and butterflies work the flowers, and small birds shelter in the twiggy growth.
• Low maintenance. One light trim after flowering is the whole annual routine.

Where it works best

Borders and low informal hedging. Plant 80cm apart for a low informal hedge along a path or driveway. At that spacing plants touch without crowding and the line keeps its billowing shape.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider suits it, and container growing holds it near the smaller end of its range. Free draining mix, sunny position.

Mass planting and feature use. Massed at 80cm centres it makes a low textured sweep through a rockery. Single plants stand alone beside an entry.

Growing Tea Tree 'Kiwi' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest foliage colour and heaviest flowering. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens and takes frost without trouble. It is not the pick for the wet tropics or arid inland districts.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. It wants free draining, slightly acidic soil and sulks in wet clay, so plant on a raised mound and open the bed with coarse compost. Mulch 50mm deep, clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper to occasional soaks. Feed once in early spring with a low phosphorus native fertiliser. Rich feeding gives soft growth and fewer flowers.

Pruning. Trim lightly straight after flowering, taking no more than the top third of new growth. Like most tea trees it is reluctant to reshoot from bare wood, so a yearly light trim beats a hard rescue cut.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tube stock is young, a single stem 15 to 20cm tall, and is the sensible choice where a border needs numbers. The 140mm packs are a season further along and already branching.

The fine wiry foliage travels well. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect a quiet month after planting, then a reasonable flower display in the second spring.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the leptospermum growing and pruning guide.
• Browse plants suited to small gardens.
• Compare salt tolerant plants for coastal blocks.
• See our bee and butterfly range.

Common questions

Is this an Australian native?

No. 'Kiwi' is a dwarf manuka selection from New Zealand, so it is a close relative of our native tea trees rather than one of them. It grows the same way here, but we do not label it a native.

How far apart should I plant it?

Eighty centimetres apart for a low informal hedge or massed border. Any tighter and the bases shade each other out, thinning the plant where you most want density.

Will it grow in a pot long term?

Yes. Use a pot at least 400mm wide with free draining mix and drainage holes. Potted plants dry out faster, so check weekly through summer rather than relying on drought tolerance.