Kanuka, White tea tree
Kunzea ericoides

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It grows 3 m tall or taller. It can be up to 10 m tall. The leaves are soft. They vary in shape and are up to 2.5 cm long and 5 mm wide. The flowers are white and in clusters. The fruit are capsules 2-4.5 mm across and with seeds 1-1.5 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It is frost tender. It can grow in very acid soils. It needs full sun and does well in moist soils. It is hardy to zone 8. It grows up to 2,000 m above sea level. In Melbourne Botanical garden.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand (country/location of origin), SE Asia, Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, sap

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Burgan, Pohon teh-tehan putih

Synonyms

Baeckia phylicoides A. Cunn. ex Schauer; Kunzea glabruiscula Gand.; Leptospermum ericoides A. Rich.; and others