Lemon scented tea tree, Leptospermum petersonii (L. petersonii), produces a unique essential oil with many attributes.
A common misconception is that lemon scented tea tree is effectively conventional tea tree with a lemon scent added to it. This is not the case. It is indeed a different species with its own properties. This article introduces lemon scented tea tree and discusses the many benefits of this exciting essential oil.
In the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, the warm humid summers and moderate, mild frost winters offer the perfect environment for growing lemon scented tea tree, L. petersonii. The subtropical climate has supported this valuable shrub since its introduction as a seed to this area in 1960. The seed was obtained from a Kenyan plantation that had its origins in the native bush rainforests of east coast Australia. L. petersonii is a strong, hardy species that adapts itself to flourish in a number of environments, whether it be dry sandy soil, a dry basis of rock and stone, or completely the opposite and predominantly wet areas and close to rivers along their banks; there is no question that this evergreen shrub has much to offer.
Producing the essential oil
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