Difference between revisions of "Backhousia citriodora"
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|Max ht box=20 | |Max ht box=20 | ||
|Max ht metric=m | |Max ht metric=m | ||
|height_ref=Wikipedia | |height_ref=Wikipedia | ||
| + | |origin=Australia | ||
| + | |origin_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381 | ||
| + | |lifespan=perennial | ||
| + | |life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381 | ||
| + | |exposure=sun, part-sun | ||
| + | |sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381 | ||
| + | |water=moist | ||
| + | |water_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia | ||
| + | |features=evergreen, flowers, fragrance | ||
| + | |flower_season=early summer, mid summer, late summer | ||
| + | |flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381 | ||
|Temp Metric=°F | |Temp Metric=°F | ||
| + | |min_zone=9 | ||
| + | |usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381 | ||
| + | |max_zone=10.5 | ||
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===Propagation=== | ===Propagation=== | ||
| − | + | Cuttings or fresh seeds. | |
===Pests and diseases=== | ===Pests and diseases=== | ||
Latest revision as of 14:22, 28 March 2011
| Habit | tree
| |
|---|---|---|
| Height: | ⇕ | 10 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 10. to 20 m"m" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 20. |
| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennial |
| Origin: | ✈ | Australia |
| Bloom: | ❀ | early summer, mid summer, late summer |
| Exposure: | ☼ | sun, part-sun |
|---|---|---|
| Water: | ◍ | moist |
| Features: | ✓ | evergreen, flowers, fragrance |
| USDA Zones: | 9 to 10.5 |
Backhousia citriodora (common names lemon myrtle, lemon scented myrtle, lemon scented ironwood) is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, genus Backhousia. It is endemic to subtropical rainforests of central and south-eastern Queensland, Australia, with a natural distribution from Mackay to Brisbane.[1] Other common names are sweet verbena tree, sweet verbena myrtle, lemon scented verbena, and lemon scented backhousia.
It can reach 20 m ft in height, but is often smaller. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, lanceolate, 5 - 12 cm long and 1.5 - 2.5 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The flowers are creamy-white, 5–7 mm diameter, produced in clusters at the ends of the branches from summer through to autumn, after petal fall the calyx is persistent.
Cultivation
Lemon myrtle is a cultivated ornamental plant. It can be grown from tropical to warm temperate climates, and may handle cooler districts provided it can be protected from frost when young.[1] In cultivation it rarely exceeds about 5 m ft and usually has a dense canopy. The principal attraction to gardeners is the lemon smell which perfumes both the leaves and flowers of the tree. Lemon myrtle is a hardy plant which tolerates all but the poorest drained soils.[1] It can be slow growing but responds well to slow release fertilisers.
Seedling lemon myrtle go through a shrubby, slow juvenile growth stage, before developing a dominant trunk. Lemon myrtle can also be propagated from cutting, but is slow to strike.[1] Growing cuttings from mature trees bypasses the shrubby juvenile stage. Cutting propagation is also used to provide a consistent product in commercial production.
Propagation
Cuttings or fresh seeds.
Pests and diseases
A significant fungal pathogen, myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) was detected in lemon myrtle plantations in January 2011.[2][3] Myrtle rust severely damages new growth and threatens lemon myrtle production. Controls are being developed.
Varieties
Gallery
photo 1
photo 2
photo 3
References
External links
- w:Backhousia citriodora. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Backhousia citriodora QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
