TEA TREE
(MELALEUCA ALTERNAFOLIA AND LINARIFOLIA)

In its natural habitat the Tea Tree grows to a height between 5 and 10 metres. The foliage is green or bluish green with narrow small leaves with oil glands. Mature trees flower during spring with fluffy, white to cream coloured, bottlebrush-shaped flowers in clusters on the outer canopy. The seed develops in woody capsules and needs approximately 18 months to mature.

These hardy plants being able to survive flooding and fire are unique to Australia. However, for the Tea Tree Oil Production, specific climate conditions are required. Tea Trees grow best in the humid climate and damp soil of the north coast of NSW from Wyong to the Queensland border.

HISTORY

It has been known for a long time that the Tea Tree has medicinal properties but only in the 1920s research found that tea tree oil was a lot more effective in destroying typhoid germs than other medicines known at that time. During World War II tea tree oil was given to Australian soldiers for skin injuries and abrasions.
Until the 1980s tee tree oil was produced exclusively from natural bush stands and Tea tree plantation started to become economically interesting during the last decade of the 20th century.