Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka — 17cm / 2L
Manuka (New Zealand Tea Tree)

Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka

£15.99
Hardy in the UKSun-lovingEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size
17cm / 2L £15.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

The Leptospermum scoparium, better known as Manuka or the New Zealand tea tree, is a dainty evergreen shrub that brings a soft, exotic charm to a warm corner of the garden. Fine, aromatic, needle-like leaves clothe wiry stems that in early summer all but disappear beneath a haze of small, five-petalled flowers in white, pink or red depending on the form. It is a pretty, understated exotic for a sheltered border or a pot on a sunny patio, and the bees adore it.

Hardiness and seasonality: manuka is borderline hardy in Britain (the RHS rate the species H4) and is at its best in mild, coastal and southern gardens. The key thing to understand is that cold on its own is rarely the problem. Cold teamed with sodden ground is what harms it: soil that freezes while waterlogged in winter is the true undoing of this plant, whereas a sharp frost in free-draining ground is generally taken in its stride. Give it a warm, sheltered spot, keep the roots on the dry side through winter, and fleece it during hard frosts while it settles in. See our hardy exotics: what to expect guide for seasonal pointers.

Water regularly through the first couple of summers to establish a strong root system, after which manuka becomes impressively drought-tolerant. It is a natural partner for other hardy exotics in a sunny exotic border, thrives in the sharp drainage of a container on the patio, and shines in mild coastal gardens where salt-laden air is no obstacle. As one of the finest nectar plants you can grow, it is a magnet for bees and pollinators right through its long flowering season.

Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy, well-branched shape and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more

What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Manuka (New Zealand Tea Tree)

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Manuka (New Zealand Tea Tree)

Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka needs full sun and well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Coastal & Exposed Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H4 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −10°C

shield it during hard frosts and, most of all, never let it sit in cold, sodden soil through winter.

Position

Full sunSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered

full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, ideally against a south or west facing wall.

Soil

LoamSandWell-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH

free-draining, neutral to acid soil. It dislikes chalk and will not tolerate heavy, wet ground.

Watering

Water regularly through the first two summers to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Once established it is pleasingly drought-tolerant. Avoid winter wet at all costs, and apply a spring mulch to conserve summer moisture while keeping the base of the plant free-draining over winter. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first two summers to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Once established it is pleasingly drought-tolerant. Avoid winter wet at all costs, and apply a spring mulch to conserve summer moisture while keeping the base of the plant free-draining over winter.

Mature size

Height1.5-2.5 m
Spread1.5-2.5 m

Reaches full size in 5-10 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

May-Jul · Pink

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Trim lightly to shape immediately after flowering. Never cut back into old bare wood, as it will not reshoot from it.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets. Leptospermum scoparium is the source of manuka honey, and its aromatic leaves have long been used to make a herbal tea.

Native range

New Zealand, SE Australia

Family

Myrtaceae

Also known as

Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka

Genus

Leptospermum
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Leptospermum scoparium hardy in the UK?

Manuka is borderline hardy in the UK, with the RHS rating the species H4, and it is happiest in mild, coastal and southern gardens. The important point is that cold on its own is rarely fatal: it is cold combined with wet that kills it, so waterlogged winter soil is the real enemy. Give it a warm, sheltered spot with sharp drainage and fleece it in hard frosts. See our hardy exotics guide for what to expect through the seasons.

Where should I plant Manuka (New Zealand tea tree)?

Choose a warm, sheltered position in full sun, ideally against a south or west facing wall that shields it from cold winds. It is a lovely choice for a sunny coastal garden, where it copes well with salt-laden air, as long as the soil is free-draining and never waterlogged in winter.

Can I grow Leptospermum scoparium in a pot?

Yes, manuka makes an excellent container plant, and pots give you full control over drainage. Use a peat-free ericaceous mix, water through summer but keep it on the dry side in winter, and move it to a sheltered spot in hard frosts. Browse more plants for pots and containers for companions.

When does Leptospermum scoparium flower?

Manuka flowers from late spring into early summer, smothering its wiry stems in masses of small, five-petalled blooms in white, pink or red depending on the form. The fine, aromatic evergreen foliage looks good all year round.

Is Leptospermum scoparium good for bees and pollinators?

Very much so. The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and other pollinators, and manuka is famously the source of manuka honey. It earns its place in any wildlife and pollinator planting.

Does Manuka need acid soil?

Manuka prefers a neutral to acid soil and dislikes shallow chalk and alkaline ground. In the open garden, work in grit for sharp drainage, and in containers use a peat-free ericaceous compost. Sitting in cold, wet soil over winter is far more damaging than the pH itself.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka
£15.99