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Backhousia myrtifolia

grey myrtle

Myrtaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Backhousia myrtifolia is an evergreen shrub to small tree growing 15-30 feet (4.5-9 m) tall in cultivation and taller in rainforest, with a dense, rounded to spreading crown and smooth grey-brown bark. The opposite leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, and release a spicy aroma when crushed. Clusters of small cream to white flowers about 0.3-0.4 inch (8-10 mm) across appear from late spring into summer; each flower has prominent stamens and a star-shaped calyx. After the petals fall, the green to reddish calyx lobes persist for months, so the plant carries a starry show long after flowering. The fruit is a small dry capsule. Growth is moderate, and plants can be kept as a multi-stemmed shrub or trained to a single trunk. In cool or exposed sites growth slows and the form stays more compact.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, along the coast and ranges from south-eastern Queensland through New South Wales. Grows in and along the margins of subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest, often on creek banks and in moist, sheltered gullies.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a specimen or screening shrub in gardens and as a street and park tree, spaced 6-12 feet (1.8-3.7 m) apart. It is used in rainforest and habitat plantings and tolerates clipping into formal shapes. The aromatic leaves are used as a culinary spice known as cinnamon myrtle.

How to Identify

Recognized by opposite glossy leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long that smell spicy when crushed, and clusters of cream flowers whose green to reddish star-shaped calyx lobes persist for months after the petals drop. The persistent calyx and aromatic foliage separate it from Backhousia citriodora, which has a lemon scent and lacks the long-lasting reddish calyx. Bark is smooth and grey-brown.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 30'

Width/Spread10' - 20'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from November to January, with peak bloom in early summer. Petals fall within a few weeks, but the green to reddish calyx lobes remain for two to four months, extending the period of visible color. Flowering is heavier on plants in full sun than in shade.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to white with green to reddish calyx

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, matching its rainforest-edge origin, with steady moisture and a mulched root zone. Established plants tolerate light frost and short dry periods but grow slowly in cold or droughty sites. Deep watering during dry spells in the first two years supports establishment. Few pests trouble it, though scale and sooty mould appear on stressed plants. The dense habit responds to clipping, which makes it usable as a hedge or screen.

Pruning

Clip or prune after flowering to shape the plant and maintain a hedge or screen. The species resprouts from cut wood, so it tolerates regular trimming. Removing spent flower heads is optional and does not affect plant health.