Growing Lemon Myrtle in WA

Name: Baileys Fertilisers
Address: Perth, Western Australia
Telephone: (08) 9439 1688

Author

Baileys Fertiliser

Published

30 June 2020

Native Plants Vegetable & Herbs

Lemon Myrtle is undoubtedly one of the most popular Australia native herbs, and likely the most versatile. It has an intense citrus fragrance and flavour, and has long been used in Aboriginal cuisine and medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. With its elegant branches of foliage and fragrant, creamy Autumn flowers, it's a beautiful ornamental and edible addition to any garden.

Planting Lemon Myrtle

Lemon myrtle is quite versatile and can be used as a screen, hedge, feature tree or will do well in large pots and even indoors.

This Australian native tree originates from central to south-eastern Queensland in the sub-tropical rain forests. Being quite hardy, it is equally at home in WA, if given adequate water during warmer months and shelter from cold winds or frost when young.

In its natural habitat, it can grow to a height up to 20 meters, but in WA, expect a height of 3-6 meters. In milder areas of WA, it can handle full sun positions, but in hot, dry areas does best in dappled shade.

Source from local nurseries, or propagated from cuttings taken in early Autumn.
Plants like fertile, well-drained soil, with a pH between 5-6.5.
If planting in ground, enrich the soil first with organic compost and manure, digging in Baileys Clay & Compost to existing soil.
If planting in pots, use a native mix made to Australian Standards, such as Baileys Native Premium Potting Mix.
Thorough mulching mimics its native rain-forest habitat. Once planted mulch with an organic mulch, such as Baileys Moisture Mulch.
Keep well-watered throughout the year.

Fertilising, Pruning & Care

Lemon Myrtle are slow growing and the addition of a slow release, organic fertiliser, such as Baileys Soil Matters Garden in Spring will help promote growth. If using as a screen or hedge, regular light tip pruning will be required to encourage dense growth. If growing as a feature tree, choose a specimen that has a single trunk and as the plant grows remove lower branches to create the desired shape.

Lemon Myrtle has relatively few issues with pests and diseases. Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease not established in WA, but poses a great risk to trees and shrubs. It attacks and kills many plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family including eucalypts, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and peppermint trees. Suspect symptoms should be reported to the Pest and Disease Information Service.

Aphids and mites can weaken growth and can also cause sooty mould. Control by spraying with eco-oil.

Harvest & Use

Harvesting is simple. Just pluck fresh leaves as needed, removing no more than one-third of the plant at a time. Leaves can be harvested year round and can be used either fresh, dried like a bay leaf, or ground.

Leaves can be used in so many way, including fresh tea, ground up and used in desserts and biscuits, used for cooking with fish and meat or hanging in your home as an air freshener.

The distilled citral oil, which has a lemon-lime scent, can be used in cosmetic products, hand-creams and soaps. These are just a few of many uses and a google search will give you many more ideas.

Recipe idea - Lemon Myrtle Cake