Practical
Plants

Backhousia myrtifolia

Grey Myrtle

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Myrtaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
12 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves[2]. The uses are not specified. Wood - hard, tough, strong, close grained. Used for tool handles, wheels, construction etc[2].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, E. Victoria.
Habitat
Gullies and the margins of rainforests[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring or autumn in a greenhouse and keep the compost moist until germination takes place. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame[4].

Cultivation

Prefers a position in full sun in a fertile moisture retentive well-drained soil[4]. A very ornamental plant[1], in Britain it is only reliably hardy in the Scilly Isles[1]. Plants in Australian gardens tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c[3], but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. Seed can remain viable on the plant for 3 - 4 years[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

    ↩

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