Grey myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia)

When it flowers

January, not flowering
February, not flowering
March, not flowering
April, not flowering
May, not flowering
June, not flowering
July, not flowering
August, not flowering
September, not flowering
October, not flowering
November, flowering
December, flowering

Flower and leaf of Cinnamon myrtle, elemicin chemovar.. Photo: John Moss, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Backhousia myrtifolia [悉尼植物園 Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney]. Photo: 阿橋 HQ, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Backhousia myrtifolia in the Botanischer Garten, Berlin-Dahlem. Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Hardy small tree with starry cream flowers in early summer and cinnamon-scented leaves.

A tough, adaptable small tree from east coast rainforest margins. In late spring and early summer it is covered in cream star-shaped flowers whose sepals stay on after the petals fall. The leaves have a cinnamon scent when crushed. Useful as a screen in sun or shade.

In the garden

Hedging
Screening
Under trees

Flowers: Clusters of cream star-shaped flowers with persistent sepals.
Leaves: Small, dark green, pointed leaves with a cinnamon scent when crushed; grey bark.
Attracts: Pollinating insects, butterflies and shelter for small wildlife

Bush food

Leaves are dried and used as a cinnamon-like spice in baking and tea.

Growing conditions

Climate: Subtropical and temperate
Light: Full sun to full shade
Soil: Sandy, loam and clay
Drainage: Copes with occasional wet
Frost: Moderate frost
Water: Some dry spells
Coast: Sheltered coastal gardens

Planting and care

Grown from: Seed and cuttings

Planting

Sun or shade in most soils. Space 2 m apart for a screen.

Pruning

Takes clipping well; prune after flowering.

Care

Hardy once established. Water in long dry spells.

Where it comes from

Family: Myrtaceae
Order: Myrtales
Native to: New South Wales and Queensland
Natural range: Rainforest margins and gullies of coastal NSW and south-east Queensland.

Specialist native nurseries.

We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.

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Grey myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia