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
Eucalyptus with myrtle rust
Eucalyptus with raised yellow pustules on the underside of the leaf. Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Photo credit CSIRO.
Eucalyptus with myrtle rust
Eucalyptus with raised yellow pustules and brown lesions. Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Photo credit CSIRO
Ramarama with myrtle rust
Over time the characteristic yellow spots can darken and become brown-grey. This is myrtle rust on a Ramarama plant. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m. It is native to New Zealand.
Eucalyptus with myrtle rust
Bright yellow powdery eruptions of spores appear on both sides of the Eucalyptus leaf. Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae.
Ramarama with myrtle rust
Bright yellow powdery eruptions appear on the underside of the young ramarama leaf. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m.
Bottlebrush with myrtle rust
Bottlebrush with raised yellow pustules and red-brown lesions on the leaves and stem indicating myrtle rust. Callistemon is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions including New Zealand.
Bottlebrush with myrtle rust
Bottlebrush with raised yellow and grey pustules and brown lesions on the leaf indicating myrtle rust. Callistemon is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions including New Zealand.
Ramarama with myrtle rust dieback
Ramarama lophomyrtus bullata also commonly known as bubble leaf with myrtle rust dieback present on branch tips. Leaves are browning and curling with yellow pustules present.
Ramarama is an endemic species often found on river edges and regenerating shrubland growing to a height of 8 metres. Distribution is patchy across the North Island and top of the South Island.