tea tree

noun

1. a tall shrub or small tree, Leptospermum scoparium, of the myrtle family, native to New Zealand and Australia, having silky foliage when young, and bell-shaped, white flowers: often planted to prevent beach erosion.

tea tree

noun

1. any of various myrtaceous trees of the genus Leptospermum, of Australia and New Zealand, that yield an oil used as an antiseptic

Word History and Origins

Origin of tea tree¹

First recorded in 1750–60; so called from the use of its leaves as an infusion

Example Sentences

They’re hypoallergenic and infused with natural tea tree oil, peppermint, aloe, and ginseng.

From Outside Online

Thankfully, these products come in a wide array of scents like tea tree, lavender, rose, mint, and sage.

From Popular-Science

“Natural oils such as lavender and tea tree oil help take out the sting and unpleasantness of mosquito bites,” says Mosquito Joe’s David Price.

From Outside Online

Save for eucalyptus and tea tree, every soap fragrance is something I’d definitely order at an ice cream shop.

From Eater

In New Zealand, we would often use manuka, a native variety of tea tree.

From Eater

It lives chiefly on the potato, and the Lycium barbarum, sometimes called the tea-tree, a shrub belonging to the Solanace.

From Project Gutenberg

One shot was enough for each hog; after receiving it he retired hastily into the tea-tree and never came out again.

From Project Gutenberg

Petiver considered our plant as a species of Tea tree; future observations will probably confirm his conjecture.

From Project Gutenberg

These pools were generally lined with patches of a narrow-leaved tea tree; and were full of basaltic pebbles.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon reaching the tree we found an infant swaddled in layers of tea-tree bark, lying on the ground; and three or four large yams.

From Project Gutenberg