Leptospermum scoparium Nanum Kiwi - Tea-tree

Leptospermum scoparium 'Nanum Kiwi' is a particularly compact variety of tea tree with a beautiful red flowering period from spring to summer. This bush produces lovely deep red flowers along its branches, almost obscuring its very fine, bronze-tinged foliage. Native to Oceania, it is certainly frost-sensitive, but tolerates poor soils and drought. Cultivation in open ground is reserved for mild climates and non-alkaline soils, but it adapts well to pot cultivation for storage over winter, allowing gardeners in colder climates to enjoy its generous flowering on the terrace throughout the season.

Native to the extreme southeast of Australia and New Zealand, Leptospermum scoparium or tea tree is a cousin of Mediterranean myrtles, clove trees and Eucalyptus. It belongs to the same family, the Myrtaceae, and shares with these plants a love of heat. It grows naturally in regions with a mildcoastal climate but also in dry forests, most often on mineral-poor, leached, rather acidic soil..

The cultivar 'Nanum Kiwi' stands out for its small size and its dark pink flowers that verge on crimson red. This bush with its rounded habit, 80 to 90 cm (3 ft) high and 90 cm (3 ft) wide, has fairly rapid growth. It has slightly aromatic leaves, alternate, single, pointed, quite small (max. 1 cm in length). The juvenile foliage is purplish, then turning to grey-green with bronze and violet tints. The flowers, slightly scented, honey-producing and nectar-rich, appear from May to July, sometimes from March to December in warm climates. They are composed of 5 petals surrounding a dark heart and do not exceed 1cm (0.4 in) in diameter. They are followed by tiny capsules releasing slender elongated seeds. This bush can be lightly pruned after flowering, from May to July.

The 'Kiwi' tea tree is hardy down to -5 °C, but the aerial parts can be damaged from -3°C. It needs a sheltered spot, in full but not scorching sun. It copes well with sea spray, which makes it an excellent bush for seaside gardens. This small bush can be planted in beds or mixed borders with other ericaceous plants. It can also be used to create a low evergreen hedge alongside Taranto Myrtle, cistus,  Myrsine africana, Callistemons and other dwarf Grevillea. In regions with cold winters this plant should be grown in a pot and kept frost-free throughout the winter.