Aniseed Myrtle

Aniseed Myrtle (Backhousia anisata) is a rare Australian rainforest tree from the Bellinger and Nambucca valleys of New South Wales, known for glossy leaves that smell strongly of aniseed when crushed. In gardens it makes a dense tree 6 to 10m tall and about 5m wide, and it is often kept much smaller as a large clipped shrub or hedge. You may also see it sold as Ringwood or under the name Syzygium anisatum.

Why you'll love it

• Aniseed-scented leaves. Crush a leaf and the scent is sweet and unmistakable. The leaves are used fresh or dried as a bushfood, for tea and for flavouring.
• Dense, glossy foliage. The wavy-edged leaves are held thickly to the ground, with soft pinkish new growth.
• Scented spring flowers. Fluffy white flowers cover the canopy in spring and draw in bees.
• Clips well. It responds to regular trimming, so it can be held as a hedge, screen or shaped specimen.
• A rare native. It has a very small natural range, and growing it in gardens helps keep it in cultivation.

Where it works best

Hedges and screens. Plant 1 to 1.5m apart and clip two or three times a year for a dense hedge 2 to 4m tall.

Bushfood gardens. Keep one plant pruned to picking height near the kitchen so fresh leaves are within reach.

Feature or shade tree. Left unpruned in a sheltered spot with good soil it grows into a handsome, rounded evergreen tree.

Large pots. It grows well in a big container with regular water and clipping.

Growing Aniseed Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or part shade, with shelter from strong, drying winds. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and mild cool temperate gardens. Established plants tolerate light frost. Protect young plants in their first winters.

Soil. Moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost. It is a rainforest tree and repays good soil and a thick layer of mulch.

Water and feed. Water regularly, especially for the first two years and during dry spells. Feed in spring and again in late summer with a slow-release fertiliser for native plants.

Pruning. Tip prune from a young age for a bushy plant, and clip hedges after each flush of growth. Like other plants in the myrtle family it can get myrtle rust on soft new growth in humid areas. Watch for yellow powdery spots, prune off and bin affected shoots, and avoid heavy feeding that forces soft growth.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Aniseed Myrtle as tube stock, in 200mm pots in packs of 6, and in 300mm and 400mm pots. Tube stock is one young plant per tube, sold singly, and it establishes quickly once planted. The 300mm and 400mm pots are single, more advanced plants. Water on arrival and plant out soon after. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Australian native trees
• Edible plants for the home garden
• Our best hedging plants
• A guide to rare Australian native plants

Common questions

How do I use the leaves?

Pick leaves as needed and use them fresh, or dry them in a shaded, airy place and store them in a jar. They are used for tea and to flavour sweet and savoury cooking.

How big will it get in my garden?

Unpruned it usually reaches 6 to 10m in gardens, and far taller in its native forest. With regular clipping it is easily held at 2 to 4m.

How fast does it grow?

Growth is steady, not fast. In good soil with regular water it puts on a moderate amount each year, and it is slower in dry or exposed positions.