Backhousia citriodora
Backhousia citriodora
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the subtropical to tropical zones, it is also able to succeed in frost-free temperate regions[1]. Mature plants can tolerate some frost, with records of plants tolerating occasional short-lived lows down to -8°c, but younger plants require protection[2, 3]. Plants grow naturally in areas with 800mm or more rainfall per year[4]. Prefers a moist but well-drained fertile soil and a position in full sun[5]. A hardy plant, it tolerates all but the poorest drained soils[3]. Requires a circumneutral soil and are prone to yellowing in alkaline conditions[4]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[1]. Plants require protection from strong winds since they can easily snap off at the base of the trunk[4]. Plants commence flowering when quite young[1]. When crushed, the leaves emit a very strong aroma which would rival any member of the citrus family[3]. Plants are generally slow-growing[3].
Propagation
Seed - it is difficult to germinate[3]. Surface sow onto a moist medium, standing the seed tray in almost half its depth of clean water and maintain a temperature around 16 - 18c[5]. Seedlings take about 12 months to develop fully. When seedlings are about 5mm tall, remove the tray from the water, leave for 4 - 5 days and then prick the seedlings out into individual containers[5]. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood with a heel[5]. Slow to make roots[3]. Small lower branches often touch the ground and form roots. These can be severed from the parent plant, and planted elsewhere[2]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Backhousia+citriodora>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. — Barwick. M. · Thames & Hudson, London · 2004 · ISBN 0-500-51181-0 ↩︎A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
- [2]Growing Native Plants — Australian National Botanic Gardens · http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/ ↩︎A series of articles giving details of cultivation and matters of general interest (including a few plant uses) on over 250 Australian plants.
- [3]Australian Native Plants Society — http://anpsa.org.au/index.html ↩︎A series of fact sheets on Australian plants. Good photographs, brief description and information on uses, habitat, range, cultivation etc.
- [4]Australian Native Food Industry Limited — http://www.anfil.org.au/index.php/flavour-of-the-month/ ↩︎Information on a small number of Australian plants believed to have the potential for commercial growth.
- [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [6]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [7]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
- [8]Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network, — http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au ↩︎Information on plants in the Queensland Rainforests.
- [9]The Useful Native Plants of Australia. — Maiden J.H. · Turner & Co.; London. · 1889 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.