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New Zealand Tea Tree

About New Zealand Tea Tree

New Zealand Tea Tree is a popular houseplant 🌿 that is easy to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

New Zealand Tea Tree belongs to the Leptospermum genus, and is native to New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand.

⚠️ New Zealand Tea Tree is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. These plants are not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Leptospermum scoparium

Genus

Leptospermum

Family

Myrtaceae

Order

Myrtales

Also known as

Manuka myrtle, Tea tree, Mānuka, Manuka, New zealand teatree, Broom tea-tree and New zealand Tea Trer

How to care for New Zealand Tea Tree

💦 Water

How often to water your New Zealand Tea Tree

New Zealand Tea Tree needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for New Zealand Tea Tree in your home

New Zealand Tea Tree love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

New Zealand Tea Tree does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of New Zealand Tea Tree in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize New Zealand Tea Tree

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for New Zealand Tea Tree: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your New Zealand Tea Tree after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #ManukaOrTeaTree

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

New Zealand Tea Tree is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Common New Zealand Tea Tree Problems →

💦 Water Needs

New Zealand Tea Tree prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

New Zealand Tea Tree Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

New Zealand Tea Tree requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

New Zealand Tea Tree is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. New Zealand Tea Tree is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

New Zealand Tea Tree will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

New Zealand Tea Tree Lifecycle →

New Zealand Tea Tree Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
New Zealand Tea Tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

New Zealand Tea Tree Hardiness Zones →

Is New Zealand Tea Tree a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in New Zealand Tea Tree, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.