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{{SPlantbox
|familia=Myrtaceae
|genus=Backhousia
|species=citriodora
|habit=tree
|Max ht box=20
|Max ht metric=m
|height_ref=Wikipedia
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Backhousia citriodora.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
''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.<ref name=Jones>{{citation |last=Jones |first=J. L. |title=Ornamental Rainforest Plants of Australia |year=1986 |publisher=Reed Books |location= |isbn=073001134 }}</ref> Other common names are sweet verbena tree, sweet verbena myrtle, lemon scented verbena, and lemon scented backhousia.
It can reach {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on|lk=off}} in height, but is often smaller. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], opposite, [[lanceolate]], {{convert|5|-|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.5|-|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The [[flower]]s 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.<ref name=Jones/> In cultivation it rarely exceeds about {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=off}} 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.<ref name=Jones/> 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.<ref name=Jones/> Growing cuttings from mature trees bypasses the shrubby juvenile stage. Cutting propagation is also used to provide a consistent product in commercial production.
===Propagation===
===Pests and diseases===
A significant fungal pathogen, myrtle rust (''[[Uredo rangelii]]'') was detected in lemon myrtle plantations in January 2011.<ref> Myrtle rust host list, NSW Primary Industries [http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust/hosts]</ref><ref>''Myrtle rust confirmed on lemon myrtle plantation'', ABC Rural [http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2011/s3124516.htm]</ref> Myrtle rust severely damages new growth and threatens lemon myrtle production. Controls are being developed.
==Varieties==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__
|familia=Myrtaceae
|genus=Backhousia
|species=citriodora
|habit=tree
|Max ht box=20
|Max ht metric=m
|height_ref=Wikipedia
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Backhousia citriodora.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
''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.<ref name=Jones>{{citation |last=Jones |first=J. L. |title=Ornamental Rainforest Plants of Australia |year=1986 |publisher=Reed Books |location= |isbn=073001134 }}</ref> Other common names are sweet verbena tree, sweet verbena myrtle, lemon scented verbena, and lemon scented backhousia.
It can reach {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on|lk=off}} in height, but is often smaller. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], opposite, [[lanceolate]], {{convert|5|-|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.5|-|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The [[flower]]s 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.<ref name=Jones/> In cultivation it rarely exceeds about {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=off}} 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.<ref name=Jones/> 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.<ref name=Jones/> Growing cuttings from mature trees bypasses the shrubby juvenile stage. Cutting propagation is also used to provide a consistent product in commercial production.
===Propagation===
===Pests and diseases===
A significant fungal pathogen, myrtle rust (''[[Uredo rangelii]]'') was detected in lemon myrtle plantations in January 2011.<ref> Myrtle rust host list, NSW Primary Industries [http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust/hosts]</ref><ref>''Myrtle rust confirmed on lemon myrtle plantation'', ABC Rural [http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2011/s3124516.htm]</ref> Myrtle rust severely damages new growth and threatens lemon myrtle production. Controls are being developed.
==Varieties==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
{{stub}}
__NOTOC__
