How to Grow Cinnamon Myrtle
Backhousia myrtifolia
Cinnamon Myrtle is a glossy-leaved Australian native shrub with delightful cinnamon-scented foliage and fluffy white summer flowers. Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost. More frost-hardy than its cousin Lemon Myrtle, tolerating light frosts once established. Tip-prune regularly to keep it bushy and use the aromatic trimmings in cooking or tea. Feed in spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser. In cooler climates, protect young plants from frost and mulch the root zone heavily in winter.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser. Container plants benefit from liquid feed monthly through the growing season.
Watch For
- Scale insects
- Myrtle rust
- Psyllids
- Frost damage on young growth
Companions
Lemon Myrtle, Bottlebrush, Grevillea
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun to part shade; sheltered from cold winds
Grows best in full sun but tolerates light afternoon shade. Choose a warm, sheltered spot protected from cold drying winds. In very hot climates, afternoon shade reduces heat stress.
Watering
Regular in spring and summer; reduce in winter
Keep soil evenly moist through the growing season. Water deeply when the top 3-4cm dries out. Reduce watering in autumn and winter. Container plants dry out faster and need more frequent attention.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed in spring and summer
Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring as growth resumes and again in midsummer. Container plants benefit from a monthly liquid feed during the growing season. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which reduce leaf fragrance.
Pruning
Tip-prune regularly; shape after flowering
Pinch out growing tips from spring through summer to maintain a bushy, compact form. More substantial shaping can be done after flowering in late summer. Avoid cutting back hard into old leafless wood.
Spacing
2m for garden specimens; suits large containers
Space garden-planted shrubs 2m apart for good air circulation. Container-grown plants can be kept compact with regular tip-pruning and are ideal for patios in cooler climates.
Support
None required; self-supporting
Cinnamon Myrtle is a self-supporting woody shrub. No staking or support is needed unless planted in a very exposed, windy position where a temporary stake may help young plants establish.
Growing Tips
Tip-prune for bushy growth
Pinch out growing tips regularly from spring through summer. This keeps the shrub compact, encourages dense branching, and provides a harvest of fragrant leaves.
Protect young plants from frost
Established plants tolerate light frosts, but plants in their first two years are vulnerable. Mulch heavily, wrap with fleece, or move containers under cover before the first frost.
Well-drained but moisture-retentive soil
Plant in humus-rich, free-draining soil. Cinnamon Myrtle dislikes waterlogged roots but also suffers in drought — mulch annually to retain moisture.
Harvest before flowering for peak aroma
Leaves are most fragrant just before the plant flowers in summer. Harvest a flush of young leaves at this time for drying or fresh culinary use.
