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  • About myrtle rust
    • How to recognise myrtle rust
    • What to do if you find myrtle rust
    • What is a myrtle plant?
    • What is myrtle rust?
    • Where is myrtle rust?
    • How does myrtle rust spread?
    • What's the risk from myrtle rust?
    • History of myrtle rust in Aotearoa New Zealand
    • Species infected with myrtle rust in New Zealand
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  • Science & research
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  • News
    • Trans -Tasman collaboration unlocks genetic secrets behind myrtle rust
    • New app to identify plants at risk of myrtle rust
    • Myrtle Rust can infect mānuka fruit and seeds
    • Myrtle Rust Sentinel Monitoring at Auckland Botanic Gardens
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How to recognise myrtle rust

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  2. About myrtle rust
  3. How to recognise myrtle rust

Keep an eye out for myrtle rust in your garden, local parks, and other green areas. Recognise symptoms so you can help protect our environment. 

Plants to check for myrtle rust

Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease that affects plants in the myrtle family. Some of our most iconic native plants are vulnerable to myrtle rust, including:

  • pōhutukawa
  • mānuka
  • rātā
  • swamp maire
  • ramarama.

Some exotic species can also get the disease, including ornamental plants like bottlebrush and lilly pily.

List of species found with myrtle rust in NZ

Symptoms to look for

Look out for symptoms of myrtle rust, including:

  • bright yellow powdery eruptions appearing on the underside of the leaf (young infection)
  • bright yellow powdery eruptions on both sides of the leaf (mature infection)
  • grey, 'fuzzy' spore growth on undersides of leaves
  • some leaves may become buckled or twisted and die off.

Use the images below to help identify myrtle rust

Pohutukawa seedling with myrtle rust

Pōhutukawa seedling with myrtle rust

Lemon myrtle leave with myrtle rust

Lemon myrtle leave with myrtle rust

Lemon myrtle, Backhousia citriodora is a non-native myrtle which has been cultivated and grown in home gardens. It is an evergreen shrub growing to a height of 6 m and prefers warm tropical conditions.

Maire tawake with myrtle rust on flower buds

Maire tawake with myrtle rust on flower buds

Maire tawake or commonly known as swamp maire Syzygium maire is the only endemic Syzygium species in New Zealand.

Myrtle rust yellow pustules on flower buds, flowering occurs during the summer months. Maire tawake can be found in waterlogged areas across the North Island and the top of the South Island, only small remnant populations remain due to extensive habitat loss.

Rohutu with myrtle rust on flower bud

Rōhutu with myrtle rust on flower bud

Rōhutu, Lophomyrtus obcordata with myrtle rust pustules on leaves, stem and flower buds. Distribution it patchy across the North and South Island’s of New Zealand. Rōhutu naturally hybridise with ramarama; hybrids are fully fertile and susceptible to myrtle rust. 

Manuka seedling with myrtle rust 2

Mānuka seedling with myrtle rust

Manuka seedling with myrtle rust 1

Mānuka seedling with myrtle rust

Ramarama flower myrtle rust

Ramarama flower myrtle rust

Myrtle rust yellow pustules on the flower calyx of ramarama lophomyrtus bullata flowers. Flowering occurs in the summer months.

Ramarama flower bud with myrtle rust

Ramarama flower bud with myrtle rust

Yellow myrtle rust pustules on the calyx of the flower bud, flowering occurs over the summer months with fruit maturing in autumn.

Pohutukawa with myrtle rust

Pōhutukawa with myrtle rust

Close up of myrtle rust infection on Kermadec Pōhutukawa. Pōhutukawa is New Zealand's Christmas tree, and holds a prominent place in Maori mythology. Although the fortunes of pōhutukawa and rata have changed for the better, they are still threatened by people and pests. Photo credit DOC. 

Rata with myrtle rust

Rātā with myrtle rust

Rātā with brown lesions and yellow spores indicating myrtle rust. Rātā trees, along with the pōhutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. Native birds benefit from rātā, but as possum numbers increase the threat to native birds and to rātā has also grown.

MR950 Metrosideros Bay of Plenty 1

Pōhutukawa with myrtle rust

Pōhutukawa with yellow spores on new stem growth indicating myrtle rust. Pōhutukawa is New Zealand's Christmas tree, and holds a prominent place in Maori mythology. Although the fortunes of pōhutukawa and rata have changed for the better, they are still threatened by people and pests. Photo credit DOC. 

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with raised yellow pustules on the leaves and stem indicating myrtle rust. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m. 

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with raised yellow pustules on the underside of the leaf indicating myrtle rust. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m. 

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama leaf with raised yellow pustules indicating myrtle rust. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m. 

Rata with myrtle rust

Rātā with myrtle rust

Rātā with raised yellow pustules indicating myrtle rust. Rātā trees, along with the pōhutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. Native birds benefit from rātā, but as possum numbers increase the threat to native birds and to rātā has also grown.

Eucalyptus with myrtle rust

Eucalyptus with myrtle rust

Yellow pustules on seedling stem and red lesions on leaves of a young Eucalyptus plant indicating myrtle rust. Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. 

Rata with myrtle rust

Rātā with myrtle rust

Rātā leaf with brown-red lesions indicating myrtle rust. Rātā trees, along with the pōhutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. Native birds benefit from rātā, but as possum numbers increase the threat to native birds and to rātā has also grown.

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with myrtle rust

Ramarama with grey-brown older spores indicating myrtle rust. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m. 

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This website was developed from a partnership between Biosecurity New Zealand (a business unit of the Ministry for Primary Industries) and the Department of Conservation to host a one stop shop of information about myrtle rust in New Zealand. 

Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease that affects plants in the myrtle family. A number of organisations are involved in safeguarding the Mauri of myrtle species and dependent ecosystems including the Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated and Project Crimson. Thank you to all contributing parties who have provided content and images to support this website resource.

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