Curry Myrtle - Backhousia angustifolia - Care Guide
Backhousia angustifolia! Also referred to as the Curry Myrtle, this robust herb is part of the Backhousia family. This rainforest species is native to Queensland and northern NSW. It has small white flowers and a distinct curry aroma when the leaves are crushed. You'll often find this species growing in pockets of dry subtropical rainforest regions.
The leaves of Curry Myrtle have a mild spicy flavour, similar to Cinnamon Myrtle. To best enjoy this edible native you can crush the foliage to release the most delicious curry smell and flavour with a hint of bush honey. This can be added to dishes as a garnish or spice!
You can expect this spectacular native to blossom with creamy white flowers Spring through to Summer.
Quick Care
| Botanical Name |
Backhousia angustifolia
|
| Size Plant: | Seedling pot, min 20 cm tall |
| Frost Tolerance: | Tolerates light frost. |
| Drought Tolerance: | Tolerant once established. |
| Soil Type: | rich, well-drained soils. |
| Sun: | Full-sun/Part-shade |
| Size: | 7m Tree. |
| Pots: | Does well in pots. |
| Feeding: | Feed a high-quality native plant food every 6 months. |
Planting
For best results, plant your Curry Myrtle in rich, well-drained soils place your plant in full sun. You can also grow in part shade for reasonable results. This dense shrub can attain a height of up to 7m. It's the perfect feature tree for any garden.
Frost tolerance
Only able to tolerate light frost you'll want to keep your Curry Myrtle in a sheltered position. If you live in a cooler climate like Melbourne keeping your plant well protected is super important, so we recommend offering it extra protection during winter.
Sunlight
This lovely species does well in full sun but it can thrive in part sun but with lower fruiting amounts.
Maintenance
Watering & Drought Tolerance
Being a rainforest species, drying out is a common cause of death, especially for younger plants. During wintertime, you can hold back on watering but as the temperature increases ensure that you're keeping your Curry Myrtle well watered. When dry, it will wilt which is a good indication of when to water.
Although drought-tolerant once established, it will need additional watering in the summer.
Fertilising your Curry Myrtle
We recommend feeding your plant every Spring with a dose of cow manure or organic fertiliser if you don’t have great soil. Fertilising with high-quality, plant food during winter and summer will result in a plant with green healthy foliage.
Growing Curry Myrtle in pots
Curry Myrtle can do well in pots but some issues can include drying out or overwatering, which can be easily identified by over yellowing leaves or wilted leaves. Keep in a sunny spot on a balcony or backyard.
Use a high-quality potting mix without fillers or additives and add your own plant food for the highest success.