Scientific Name: Backhousia myrtifolia

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  • Pronunciation:
    back-HOWS-ee-ah mer-tee-FOAL-ee-ah
  • Common Name:
    Grey Myrtle, Cinnamon Myrtle
  • Type:
    Shrub or Small Tree
  • Family:
    MYRTACEAE
  • Status:
    Common
  • Flowers:
    White with persistent larger yellowish green calyx. Spring, summer.
  • Fruit:
    Woody brown seed capsule to 7mm
  • Flowers Color:
    White
  • Fruit Color:
    Brown
  • Vegetation Type:
    Rainforest, Wet Eucalypt Forest. Grows along gullies and watercourses
  • Species List:
    Community Gardens, Landcare Display Garden, Hedges, Bush food, Craft, FI Podberscek, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, Old Tewantin, Tewantin Forest Gyndier, Fraser Island, NNP Viewland/Brunjes, Upper Yandina Creek, Kin Kin Scrub, Heritage Park, RE 12.2.3. RE 12.9-10.16. RE 12.9-10.16x1.
Cultural Notes

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

Fine grained hard tough timber limited use for tool handles fishing rods and bows

Bush Food: Leaves can be substituted for bay leaves. Leaves can be dried, crushed and used for flavouring.

Identification Notes

Crushed foliage is highly aromatic. Sepals 2 to 3 times as long as wide, acute, all similar in size.||

Associated Fauna

Nectar feeding butterflies||

Landscaping Notes

Noosa Council Preferred Species list. Good ornamental shrub. Useful windbreak , screen or hedge. Grows in sun or semi-shade and is tolerant of a range of conditions provided it is not allowed to dry out. Aromatic leaves can be utilised in sweet and savoury dishes. ||Indoor pot plant potential.||Propagation is from seed, which can be sown with the spent flower still intact; and from cuttings. |