Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle)

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Plant description

Not only is this plant one of the best bush foods, it is also a beautiful ornamental with its glossy green aromatic leaves and fluffy white flowerheads. Whilst it is capable of growing into a small to medium sized tree, it can be kept as a shrub through regular pruning of the growing tips. This also serves to harvest the plant for its culinary uses for flavouring all sorts of dishes. Plant in a sunny spot with well drained soil and feed regularly during the warmer months to give yourself plenty of shoot tips for harvest. The lemon scented oils in the leaves are the thing that provides the flavour.

Further reading: Australian Native Trees and Top Gum Trees for Gardens (articles written by native plant expert Angus Stewart).

Additional plant information

Flowers

Flower colour: white
Flowering season: summer

Plant size

Maximum height: 20 metres
Minimum height: 3 metres

Maximum width: 5 metres
Minimum width: 1 metres

Sunlight, frost & salt tolerance

This plant will tolerate full or partial sunlight.
Light frost tolerance.
Plant is not salt tolerant.

Fauna attracting?

Not specified.

Climate

This plant species will grow in the following climates: temperate, subtropical.

Soil types & conditions

Loam: moist, well-drained.

Clay: well-drained.

Sand: moist, well-drained.

Soil pH: 5.5-6.5

Miscellaneous information

Native to: Australia.

Planting season: not specified.

Types of fertiliser: low phosphorus native plant fertiliser.

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