Plant family: Myrtaceae
Plant origin: Queensland.
Fruit description: The fruit are dry capsules, not edible.
Flowers: The flowers are sweet, fragrant, creamy white, about 5cm in diameter, occurring in many clusters over the shrub in Spring.
Growing conditions: Lemon Myrtle is an evergreen bushy shrub, growing to 4 metres. It has long shiny leaves 10cm long. They have a wavy edge and are velvety beneath. Young leaves are pinkish red. Protect the young tree from frost. It grows well in a pot. Lemon Myrtle likes full sun or part shade in a mild, subtropical or tropical climate, and moist, rich soil, but can grow in most soils. It gives good shade and makes a lovely garden specimen, screen or hedge. It attracts nectar feeding birds. Give it plenty of water and general fertiliser to keep it lush and dense
Uses: Use the leaves fresh or dried. When crushed, the leaves smell of lemon, due to a large amount of the oil citral (more than in lemongrass). They can be used to make tea or to flavour foods such as stuffings, desserts such as ice-cream, sorbet, puddings, biscuits, confectionery, preserves or sauces. It is excellent with seafood and fish. Bring sprays of leaves inside to scent the house or cupboards. Use the oil in aromatherapy, massage oils, perfume, and cosmetics.
Medicinal uses: Aboriginals use the leaves in healing. Lemon Myrtle Oil is a disinfectant, and an antiseptic.
Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.
Harvest time Harvest the leaves as you require them.
Plant relatives Lemon Myrtle (B. citriadora) is related to other native myrtles, including theCinnamon Myrtle (B. myrtifolia), and Aniseed Myrtle (B. anisata).
Special features:
Grown by method: Cutting Grown Pot size: 125mm
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 4 metres high by 3 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 125mm
