{"product_id":"backhousia-citriodora","title":"Backhousia citriodora","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLemon Myrtle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eBackhousia citriodora\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Myrtaceae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Queensland, Australia (subtropical rainforest)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen small tree; can be maintained as a large shrub with regular pruning\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBackhousia citriodora — Lemon Myrtle — is one of Australia's most celebrated native trees, famed for foliage so richly charged with citral that it out-lemons lemon itself. Native to the subtropical rainforests of south-east Queensland, it adapts beautifully to Adelaide's temperate climate as a graceful feature tree, tall privacy screen, or dense fragrant hedge. Glossy evergreen leaves, a generous flush of fluffy cream-white flowers each summer, and year-round culinary versatility make it one of the most rewarding natives you can plant in a South Australian garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5–8 m H x 4–5 m W (can be maintained at 2–3 m H with regular pruning)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate to fast; 40–60 cm per year; upright with a dense, rounded to oval crown that fills in well without staking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen; glossy, bright to mid-green oval leaves with prominent veining; intensely lemon-scented when crushed — citral content exceeds that of lemon fruit itself\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fluffy, creamy-white flower clusters in dense terminal sprays; summer (November–February); lightly sweet-lemon fragrant; outstanding for pollinators and cut arrangements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeasonal Interest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year-round glossy foliage; peak flowering November–February; persistent floral display extends into early autumn; fresh lemon scent released whenever leaves are brushed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Strongly attracts native bees, honeybees, butterflies, and nectar-feeding birds including honeyeaters and lorikeets; leaves are a food plant for specialist native insects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought-tolerant once established; light frost to –2°C; coastal in sheltered positions; moderate wind; heat-tolerant in part shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tight screening hedge: 80–100 cm apart (1.3 plants per metre); standard informal hedge or privacy screen: 1.2–1.5 m apart (0.8 plants per metre); feature tree: 3–4 m from neighbouring plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePet Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Non-toxic to cats and dogs; leaves are an edible culinary herb for humans; large quantities of any plant material may cause mild digestive upset in pets — discourage excessive grazing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere It Works Best\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade; best fragrance and flowering in full sun; tolerates 3–4 hours of direct sun per day in part-shade positions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prefers well-drained loam or sandy loam enriched with organic matter; tolerates clay if drainage is improved with gypsum and compost; mulch thickly to retain moisture and keep roots cool in Adelaide summers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Needs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Establishment (first 12 months): water 2–3 times per week during warm or dry periods; reduce to once weekly in cooler months. Established: summer — deep water once weekly; winter — once every 2–3 weeks or rely on Adelaide's winter rainfall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to moderate; tip-prune after flowering to maintain shape and density; tolerates hard pruning for rejuvenation; harvest foliage year-round for culinary use; apply slow-release native fertiliser in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50+ years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suited to Adelaide's coastal suburbs, inner metropolitan areas, and sheltered Adelaide Hills positions; performs well across temperate and Mediterranean zones from Victor Harbor to the Barossa; marginal in exposed high-Hills sites with severe frosts (below –3°C) and in the Riverland without supplemental summer irrigation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slightly acid to neutral (pH 5.5–7.0); avoid highly alkaline or waterlogged soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape \u0026amp; Design Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant as a tall aromatic privacy screen along fences or property boundaries — responds vigorously to pruning and can be maintained as a formal to semi-formal hedge at 2–3 m, providing year-round green density\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse as a courtyard or entertaining-area feature tree where foliage can be casually brushed to release its signature lemon fragrance on warm evenings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncorporate into a bush-food or edible garden — harvest fresh leaves year-round as a citrus substitute in cooking, teas, cocktails, and homemade syrups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrow in a large pot (minimum 80 L) on a sunny alfresco terrace or balcony for fragrance, summer flower interest, and a culinary harvest without a full garden bed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCombine with Westringia fruticosa, Callistemon, and Melaleuca for a cohesive low-maintenance native screen with year-round colour and exceptional wildlife value\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You Will Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a reason Lemon Myrtle is called the queen of the lemon herbs — one brush of a leaf fills the air with the cleanest, brightest citrus scent you will ever encounter, richer and purer than any lemon in a bowl. Then come the flowers: a long, generous flush of creamy white fluff from late spring into summer that bees and butterflies simply cannot resist. In an Adelaide garden it earns its place as a hardworking screen, a sensory showpiece, and a year-round kitchen staple, all in one long-lived Australian native. Plant it where you walk past it every day and you will never regret it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Plant Co","offers":[{"title":"400mm Pot","offer_id":68041140437244,"sku":"BACK-CITR-400MM-SO","price":280.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/9282\/0220\/files\/backhousia-citriodora-lemon-myrtle-400mm-pot-adelaide-plant-co.jpg?v=1793947061","url":"https:\/\/adelaideplantco.com.au\/products\/backhousia-citriodora","provider":"Adelaide Plant Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}