Metrosideros excelsa Myrtle Rust

[goughi]

I was pruning a Metrosideros excelsa (Fiji Fire) today and suspected a Myrtle Rust infection. Yellow coloured pustules on new leaves and brown spots elsewhere.

I rang the nursery on Brisbane's south side where I bought the plant a few months ago and sure enough they confirmed that they had found a small number of plants with the rust, including Merorsideros. They advised that the rust was widespread and that while Metrosideroscould be infected it wasn't overly sensitive - just cut off the infected foliage and dispose of it.

Something to keep watch for. There are some good photos of myrtle rust on the web to aid in identification.

[shibui]

Well done for letting us know Goughi. Myrtle rust in garden plants and bonsai can be controlled with fungicides but what happens to the bush Another problem from illegal impots of seed or plant material