Scientific Name: Backhousia citriodora

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  • Pronunciation:
    back HOW zee a sit Tree oh DOOR ah
  • Common Name:
    Lemon scented Myrtle, Lemon Ironwood, Lemon Myrtle
  • Type:
    Shrub or small tree
  • Family:
    MYRTACEAE
  • Status:
    Common
  • Flowers:
    White, December to March
  • Fruit:
    capsule with five persistent sepals
  • Flowers Color:
    White
  • Fruit Color:
    Green
  • Vegetation Type:
    Sub-tropical and littoral rainforests and riverine scrub
  • Species List:
    Hedges, Bush food, Community Gardens, Noosa High School, Fraser Island, Upper Yandina Creek, NNP Tanglewood, Kin Kin Arboretum, Heritage Park,
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Popular bush food. Lemon myrtle leaves are often used to flavour poultry or sea-food: Just one or two leaves give a special touch to baked chicken. Furthermore, lemon myrtle is popular for herbed vinegar, mayonnaise and vinaigrettes. The wonderful tangy aroma of Lemon myrtle is used in Australian bush cuisine, perfumery and aromatherapy applications. Reminiscent of lemon and of the true Melissa oil, it is an excellent blending oil with long-lasting characteristics.

Part Used: Leaf, flowers.

Flavour: Strong lemon.

Food Use: For citrus-type flavour in sweet and savoury products. The leaves contain between 0.33 - 0.86 essential oil consisting almost entirely of citral.

Current Retail Product Categories: Tea blends and beverages, dairy, biscuits, breads, confectionery, pasta, syrups, liqueurs, flavoured oils, packaged fish/salmon. Dipping Sauces, Simmer Sauces. For use in sweet and savoury dishes.

Identification Notes

Bark grey and rough Stipules absent Leaves aromatic when crushed||

Associated Fauna

Nectar feeding butterflies.||Birds like nectar from flowers.|Popular with beetles and bees.

Landscaping Notes

Noosa Council Preferred Species list. | Ideal for wind or visual breaks, and has great aesthetic value and fragrance in the garden. Leaves used for tea, flavouring sweet and savoury dishes. Will grow in most soils but prefers ample moisture. Part sun to full sun.