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
App to help you identify plants at risk | mpi.govt.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)
- brown/grey rust pustules (older spores) on older lesions
- 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
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
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.
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 grey-brown older spores 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 raised yellow pustules indicating myrtle rust. Ramarama is an endemic species of evergreen myrtle shrub which grows to a height of 8m.
