CAT-00017
Lemon myrtle
Backhousia citriodora
Catalog fields
- Genus
- Backhousia
- Photo
- Not recorded
- Edible
- Yes
- layout
- full
- Habitat
- Not recorded
- Published
- Yes
- Food group
- Herb / spice
- Latin name
- Backhousia citriodora
- Fruit photo
- Not recorded
- Plant title
- Lemon myrtle
- Source URLs
- https://tuckerbush.com.au/lemon-myrtle-backhousia-citriodora/ Open source ↗
- Catalogue ID
- CAT-00017
- Mature width
- 3-5m
- Native range
- Eastern Queensland subtropical rainforest.
- Plant family
- Myrtaceae
- Supplier SKU
- Not recorded
- Listing group
- Common bush-food crop
- Mature height
- 3-8m
- Native states
- QLD
- Original list
- No
- Research date
- 10/10/2026
- Research notes
- Profile enriched from botanical/nursery sources. Dimensions are unpruned regional estimates where available; missing measurements remain explicit. Seasons are regional guides and vary with climate, location, cultivar and plant maturity. Drought and cultivation guidance are qualitative garden inferences, not measured ratings.
- Evidence status
- Nursery food-use source; preparation detail review pending
- Fruiting season
- Dry fruits follow flowers; leaf harvest throughout active growth.
- Background photo
- Not recorded
- Edible component
- Leaves for flavouring
- Flowering season
- Autumn reported by nursery; timing varies.
- Brief description
- Aromatic evergreen rainforest tree with strongly lemon-scented leaves.
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate once established; irrigate during long dry spells.
- Preparation notes
- Use small amounts of fresh or dried leaf as flavouring; leaves can be removed after infusion.
- Flower description
- Fragrant cream flowers in dense clusters.
- General cultivation
- General guidance (qualitative): Promising in a sheltered, mulched site; protect young growth from frost.
- Botanical description
- Not recorded
- Other botanical names
- Not recorded
- Attracts birds and bugs
- Native bees and wasps visit flowers; birds shelter in canopy.
- Flora of Australia profile
- Not recorded
- Fruit type and description
- Small dry capsule-like fruits; leaves are the culinary crop.
- Flora of Australia citation
- Not recorded
- Flora of Australia retrieved
- Not recorded