Lemon-scented Myrtle, Sweet Verbena Tree, Lemon Ironwood
Backhousia citriodora
| Family: | Myrtaceae (mir-TAY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Backhousia (bak-HOW-zee-uh) (Info) |
| Species: | citriodora (sit-ree-oh-DOR-uh) (Info) |
Category:
Trees
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Shiny/Glossy
Smooth
Foliage Color:
Height:
20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
Spacing:
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Hawthorne, California
Gardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Neutral | On May 30, 2013, mattsupi from kuala lumpur, hi... i'm interested to plant this tree. Could anyone can advise me that this plant can be life at tropical weather, where by i'm stay at Malaysia, where is one of the south east asia country. |
| Positive | On Oct 16, 2009, Lola111 from Brisbane, Hi, |
| Positive | On Feb 16, 2006, melangemerchant from Adelaide, I can only add to what has been said above. A superb Australian native shrub or small tree. Doesn't like drought conditions, during summer I water mine very regularly. As for uses, I use the leaves in a great many things such as SE Asian curries/soups/marinades, in place of lemongrass or lemon zest. I use some dried leaves ground up with pepper in crumbing for fish fillets, seafood or schnitzel. It also works well in Moroccan style dishes. |
| Positive | On Jan 14, 2005, Herbynoel from Brisbane, This would have to be one of Australias best small trees for the suburban garden. |
| Positive | On Jan 13, 2005, mertyl from Brisbane, I love this tree and so do the birds,bees and especially butterfly's. The old fallen leaves smell richly of lemon as you mow around the tree and the whole tree smells magnificent. It has a nice round compact shape and looks lovely when in bloom. |
