Lemon Scented Myrtle

Lemon Scented Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) earns its place twice: once as a dense evergreen screen, and again as the most intensely lemon scented leaf you can grow. In a garden it settles at around 6m tall and 4m wide, well short of the 20m it reaches in Queensland rainforest, and it carries creamy white flowers through late summer that bees and small birds work over. Brush past it and the whole corner smells of lemon.

Why you'll love it

• Scent you can use. The leaves are a genuine bushfood, and one crushed leaf carries further than a whole lemon tree.
• A screen and a feature at once. At 6m by 4m it fills a boundary; grown on a single trunk it becomes a shapely small shade tree.
• Wildlife earn from it. Cream and white flower masses bring in bees, butterflies and nectar feeding birds.
• Tougher than it looks. Drought tolerant once established, comfortable in humidity, and salt tolerant enough for gardens back from the beachfront.
• Low maintenance. No spraying regime, and it takes a hard prune if it outgrows its spot.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row. Trimmed twice a year it holds at 3m to 4m and stays furnished low down; left alone it lifts into a small multi trunked tree.

Feature planting near a path. Site it where people brush past: a back step, a path, an outdoor table. The scent only releases when leaves are touched, so a plant at the back of a bed wastes half of what it offers.

Growing Lemon Scented Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with the strongest leaf oil in an open sunny spot. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant. It takes light frost once established but not much more, so gardeners in Canberra or the tablelands should pot it against a warm north facing wall.

Soil. It wants soil that holds some moisture but drains freely. Heavy clay needs a raised mound and generous compost through the bed. Mulch 75mm deep, off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week for the first two summers while the roots build, then it carries itself through dry spells. Feed with a controlled release native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning and harvest. Tip prune from the first year to build density low down, then trim a hedge after flowering and again in early autumn. Pick mature leaves any time and dry them flat out of the sun. The concentrated essential oil is not safe for cats, so keep bottled oil away from pets.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in eleven sizes, from tube stock and 140mm through 200mm, 250mm, 300mm and 400mm pots to 25L, 45L, 100L, 200L and 400L. Tube and 140mm plants suit a long hedge run: fast to establish and a fraction of the price of advanced stock. From 100L up they are semi advanced trees.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect little movement for the first month, then a strong flush once the roots take hold. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full range of Australian native trees
• Designing a native garden that brings in wildlife
• Compare hedging and screening plants
• Preparing your soil before planting

Common questions

How big does it actually get?

Around 6m tall by 4m wide over time, not the 20m quoted for wild rainforest trees. Trimmed as a hedge it sits easily at 3m to 4m.

Can I use the leaves in cooking?

Yes. They are a well established Australian bushfood used in teas, marinades and baking. Use them sparingly, as the flavour is far stronger than lemon zest.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Perth?

Perth gardens generally suit it, given drainage and summer water. Melbourne is marginal because of frost, so grow it in a large pot and protect it through winter.