Lemon Myrtle: How To Grow This Bush Tucker Plant At Home 

Written for Warndu by Briana Hilton

Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is a gorgeous, citrusy Australian shrub native to the subtropical rainforests of central and south-eastern Queensland. The Australian Aborigines have used lemon myrtle for culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The plant’s fragrant, zesty leaves can be used fresh or dried to make tea, or in dressings, sauces, cakes, and meat- or vegetable-based savoury dishes (think of it like a lemony bay leaf). A hardy, largely pest- and disease-resistant plant, lemon myrtle can grow as a tree in hot subtropical climates, or as a smaller shrub in colder areas. With a little love, care, and attention, you can successfully grow and maintain lemon myrtle at home, and make the most of its wonderful bounty.

Best growing conditions for Lemon Myrtle

Lemon myrtle thrives in warm conditions and full sun, although it can still do well in partially-shaded, cooler spots. However, young plants generally don’t tolerate frost, and will need extra protection in these conditions. Nutrient-rich soil can also support healthy plant growth. So, before planting lemon myrtle in your garden, enrich the soil with organic compost to improve the soil’s nutrient content and structure. If you have heavy clay soil, apply gypsum to break up the compacted clay and improve drainage (lemon myrtle also thrives in well-drained soil). 

Growing Lemon Myrtle from seeds  

Growing lemon myrtle from seeds requires time and patience as germination can take anywhere between two to eight weeks. But as it’s often easier to get a hold of seeds than cuttings, this may be the route you want to take. You'll first need to soak your seeds in water overnight to soften the rigid outer shell, and then sow them 1cm deep in trays filled with potting mix. Place your trays in a warm, sunny spot and mist regularly with water to prevent the soil drying out. Once the seeds have germinated and grown a few leaves, it’s time to transplant them to their own pots. Go for large pots with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, and fill them with potting mix.

You’re then tasked with caring for the plant while it matures. So water whenever the soil feels dry, and prune regularly to encourage even, bushy growth. With love and care, your lemon myrtle will develop into a healthy, full-sized plant in around three to four years. It can also thrive as an indoor potted plant — just be sure to place it at a sunny, north-facing window. Indoor plants are a great way to add life and colour to your interiors. And since indoor plants also release oxygen throughout the day, they also have the added bonus of purifying the air too.

Growing Lemon Myrtle from cuttings 

Growing lemon myrtle from cuttings is faster than growing from seeds. So if your friends, family, or neighbours have a mature lemon myrtle plant, ask if you can cut off a piece and use it to grow your own. Cut off a healthy stem or branch around 10 cm long and with two or more leaf nodes. Then strip the foliage from the cutting’s lower half and coat the bottom in rooting hormone to stimulate root growth. Place your cutting in a pot filled with a well-draining propagating mix (insert it around 3 cm deep), water well, and leave in a warm, shaded spot.

It can take at least a few weeks for roots to establish, and it’s important to keep the propagating mix moist during this time. Once roots have developed, move the plant either to a bigger pot or the ground. You’ll then need to look after it just as you would an adult lemon myrtle. It’ll reach maturity in around one to two years.  

Caring for Lemon Myrtle

Although mature lemon myrtle is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant, regular watering is still beneficial — just be careful to not waterlog the plant. You should also apply a low-phosphorus, native fertiliser every spring and autumn to help mimic the nutrient-rich soil of the plant's natural habitat. Lemon myrtle can also grow between three to eight metres tall, and you may want to prune your plant regularly to keep size and shape manageable. The best time window for pruning is after the plant flowers in the late summer or early autumn.

On the whole, lemon myrtle is fairly disease- and pest-resistant, although mites and aphids can sometimes stunt growth and cause leaf curls or sooty mould (a type of plant mould that looks like black soot). So, if you spot any of these pests on your plant, treat it right away with natural and organic insecticidal soap. You may need to apply the insecticide once a week to keep pests at bay.

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Growing lemon myrtle at home is a simple enough process. By giving your plant the care and attention it needs, you can enjoy its rewarding bounty for years to come.

Lemon Myrtle from Warndu