Backhousia citriodora or Lemon Myrtle is a popular, medium-sized tree with deep green, lemon-scented leaves. Masses of distinctive white flowers adorn the tree from late spring through summer. The leaves are used in soaps and often used in cooking where they impart their distinctive lemony oils to the dish. It can be grown for shade or used as a hedge or screen, the strong lemony scented leaves make hedge trimming a sensory pleasure. Lemon Myrtle should be pruned regularly in the first two years to provide a shrubby appearance and to increase leaf production
Soil: Well-drained, moist soil with plenty of organic matter.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Being native to the sub-tropical rain forests of Queensland it is not frost-hardy but easily grown in warmer climates. Can be grown in coastal areas but will not do well if planted next to the beach.
Size: Height 8m x width 4m
Soil: Well-drained, moist soil with plenty of organic matter.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Being native to the sub-tropical rain forests of Queensland it is not frost-hardy but easily grown in warmer climates. Can be grown in coastal areas but will not do well if planted next to the beach.
Size: Height 8m x width 4m