Leptospermum liversidgei
| Leptospermum liversidgei | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 13' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Leptospermum liversidgei (common name: lemon-scented tea tree)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and give some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors. The seed remains viable for many years.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8 cm with a heel, early August in a frame. Over-winter in the greenhouse for its first year. Good percentage[1].
Cuttings of almost mature wood, 4 - 5 cm with a heel, October/November in a frame. Good percentage[1].
Cultivation: Succeed in almost any neutral or acid soil of good or reasonable quality, preferring a light sandy loam and full sun[2]. Prefers a position sheltered from hot or cold drying winds[2].
Only succeeds outdoors in the mild areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[2]. If plants are killed back in cold winters they sometimes sprout afresh from the old wood[3]. This species does not regenerate from old wood[2].
Resents root disturbance[2].
The leaves have a delightful lemon scent[4][3]. The forms grown in Britain have a very weak scent, is this due to a lack of sun?[5].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[2].
Range: Australia.
Habitat: Swamps by the coast in New South Wales[6][7].
Edibility: The dried leaves are a tea substitute[8]. Lemon-scented[9][10].
Medicinal: Antibacterial[6].
Usage: An essential oil obtained from the leaves[5] is used as a bactericide[6].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cribb, Alan. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins, 1981.
- ↑ Carolin, R. Flora of the Sydney Region. Reed, 1993.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.