Friday flowers

This is the pretty pink flower of our native manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium).

The manuka is our most common native tree. It grows to 4 metres tall relatively quickly and provides a perfect habitat for other slower growing native trees to germinate and grow underneath.  The manuka has proved integral in regenerating native New Zealand bush in areas which were deforested by European settlers on arrival here 150 years ago. Wind blown manuka trees

It’s a similar looking tree to the Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) but is a different species with some very different medicinal properties. Manuka oil has excellent antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial activities.  The honey resulting from manuka nectar is pretty special as well.