Mānuka

Profile

Family

Myrtaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

5 m

Spread

3 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

100 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 8–12

Shade tolerance

light shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

5 – 6

Synonyms

ZD

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Leaves (fragrant) (beer, finest tea); Manna (pia manuka);

Other uses: This species can be grown as a hedge in milder regions and is relatively tolerant to maritime exposure. It is advised not to heavily prune the plants as they do not recover well from it. A yellow-green dye can be obtained from the flowers, branches, and leaves of this plant, while a green-black dye is extracted from the flowers. An insecticide is also derived from this plant, but no further details are known. The wood of this plant is red, strong, and flexible, used for inlay work and carpentry. The bark is traditionally used for covering huts.

Notable

Eigenschaften: verträgt Meeresexposition und Trockenheit; Pionier in gestörten Gebieten; Wächst vom Tiefland bis in subalpine Gebiete in verschiedenen Lebensräumen, insbesondere an offenen Hängen, Flussufern, Feuchtgebieten, Waldrändern und Gestrüpp, wo es häufig die vorherrschende Vegetation bildet; Sehr anpassungsfähig an unterschiedliche Umgebungen; „Burgundy Queen“ ist eine rot blühende Ziersorte, die nur 2 m hoch wird;

Origin & habitat

Australia and New Zealand

Derived from A. chinensis cultivation, it is not known to occur in a truly wild setting.

Related plants