Other Names:  Manuka, New Zealand Tea-Tree

Description:

A fast growing, spreading shrub or small tree with good drought tolerance; makes a great hedge or utility plant; attractive olive foliage is flushed with dark burgundy, especially in full sun; cream flowers in summer; prune to avoid seed from spreading;

Ornamental Features

Dark Shadows Tea-Tree features showy lightly-scented creamy white flowers along the branches from late spring to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive burgundy-variegated olive green foliage with hints of coppery-bronze which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The small narrow sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain olive green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Dark Shadows Tea-Tree is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Dark Shadows Tea-Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Dark Shadows Tea-Tree will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Dark Shadows Tea-Tree makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.