Lemon myrtle tree

How to identify a lemon myrtle

Lemon myrtle is a bushy small tree, often branched to the ground, with dark green leaves 4 to 15 cm long arranged in opposite pairs. The surest test is to crush a leaf: it releases a lemon smell as strong as any citrus. New leaves can be light green, purple or bronze. In summer, clusters of small cream-white flowers with fluffy stamens appear at the branch tips, followed by small, dry brown fruits. Bark on older trunks is rough and can become dark and fissured.

Growing a lemon myrtle in Brisbane

Lemon myrtle grows naturally in Queensland rainforests from about Mackay south to the Brisbane area. Brisbane City Council's street tree list gives it 5 to 10 metres with a small crown, and approves it for verges narrower than 2.5 metres and beside bus stops, but not under power lines. In gardens it often stays nearer 5 metres. It tolerates most soils, including poor clay, but not badly drained ground, and it takes plenty of sun. It suits small gardens and makes a good screen.

What to watch out for

Few problems. Even with its less invasive roots, Urban Utilities' general advice is to plant any tree at least 3 metres from sewer pipes.

Pruning and care

Lemon myrtle can be slow growing, but it responds well to slow-release or native plant fertiliser in spring. Mulch the root zone and water during long dry spells, especially while the tree is young, and protect young plants from frost in colder pockets. Prune after flowering to keep it bushy or to shape it as a screen; light trims also give a steady supply of fresh leaves for the kitchen. Avoid planting it in soil that stays wet.

• Tree pruning
• Tree health assessment