Leptospermum scoparium - Wild Alpine Manuka

Wild Alpine Manuka: M, N, P, **, May-Jul

EVERGREEN SHRUB growing to 3m (10ft) by 3m (10ft). Does not like very dry soil, likes full sun and tolerates severe coastal conditions. Hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from May to July. Our most exciting bee plant. Wild seed from alpine slopes in New Zealand are the provenance of these plants, which provide the most effective oil found amongst New Zealand’s Manuka plants, producing the most potent Manuka honey, measured in mg/Kg of ‘methylgloxal’ (MGO). Bees choose Manuka plants over all others in the New Zealand wildernesses. However, the plants we offer are 1-2 years old and will not flower sufficiently in their first couple of years to support your bees – rather look on them as an investment in your bee garden. If clipped and trained when young, can form excellent, dense and long-lived hedges. This essential oil is known to be antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral and many times more potent in these antimicrobial properties than any other known plants – and without a doubt conferring these benefits to the bees. A 100% star bee plant! Not only this, but it also flowers during the June-gap dearth.These are suitable to plant as windbreak hedging; we recommend 2.5 m spacing between trees planted in a double, staggered row. They are also suitable near the coast and can withstand gales. What more could you wish for from a bee plant? Young plants benefit from winter protection. Mature plants will be hardy. Produces POLLEN & NECTAR. PLANTS: 1 Litre (2-3 yr old plant ready to plant out in 2012) £7.50.

photo: www.NZPlantPics.com