Metrosideros excelsa Myrtle Rust
Posted: August 10th, 2013, 3:46 pm
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.
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.