Managing native plants susceptible to myrtle rust Guide for large-scale planting and restoration programmes July 2018 Myrtle rust is now widely spread across New Zealand and poses a threat to many iconic native myrtle species. This guide provides information to consider when planning, planting, and maintaining myrtle plants as part of municipal gardens, large-scale landscaping and habitat restoration planting, riparian planting, and shelter belts. Areas and spec...
Resources for landowners with myrtle rust Care for and manage infected plants You are not required to remove infected plants. You may leave the plant in place and monitor the progress of myrtle rust on the infected plant. If you leave your plants, what happens to them will vary depending on the species, size, and their general health. Monitoring the progression of the disease on different myrtle species will be useful in determining resistant plants or individuals in the long-term....
May 2018 A GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING Myrtle Rust This guide describes New Zealand myrtles, myrtle rust and what to look for in your neighbourhood in order to identify myrtle rust. Myrtles in your backyard Myrtles, are a type of evergreen tree or shrub common to New Zealand. These include native plants such as pōhutukawa, mānuka, kānuka, ramarama, rātā, and exotic plants like feijoa, eucalypts, bottlebrush, guavas, willow myrtle and lilly pilly (also known as monkey apple). All o...
Ministry for Primary Industries Myrtle Rust Susceptible Host Species Please note: This list is not all inclusive but has been compiled to support the identification of Myrtle Rust on various plant species in the field. This list may change over time as further scientific evidence includes or eliminates different species as potential hosts. Species Status Degree of Susceptibility (modified from Hood, 2016 - data from Queensland) Common Name Synonyms Species Authority Family Acca...
How to remove infected myrtle plants and safely dispose of the waste This document provides advice for landowners who choose to remove infected myrtle plants on their properties. Please note that there is no requirement to remove infected plants. However, landowners with infected myrtles on their property have the choice to remove these plants if they choose. If you choose to remove your infected plant you can use the method on the following pages. Larger trees may need the as...
Resource for gardeners Caring for your myrtle plants Avoid heavy pruning during warm weather if possible as this could encourage susceptible new growth. Instead, prune myrtles only in late autumn and early winter. When pruning, use good hygiene practice, sterilise and disinfect tools and equipment with pure alcohol or methylated spirits. Reduce soil compaction and injury to tree roots Reduce or avoid applying any herbicides around trees, trunk or root plate areas...
Myrtle rust Reducing impacts through plant selection September 2019 Background Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is a significant disease for a wide range of species within the Myrtaceae family. It originated in South America and has now spread to North America, Hawaii, New Caledonia, South Africa, Japan and Australia. In Australia, myrtle rust has caused localised decline and large range reductions in formerly widespread species. On other species, myrtle rust, which...
Karin van der Walt, Conservation and Science Advisor at Otari Native Botanic Garden in Wellington discusses what myrtles are and why they are important to New Zealand’s biodiversity. Transcript All myrtles are woody, with essential oils, and evergreen leaves. The flowers have a base number of five petals, though some are minute or absent. The stamens are usually very conspicuous, brightly coloured and numerous. A collage of trees from the myrtle family that grow in New Zealand. The bottom t...
Scion trialling Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Improved methods for mapping NZ's myrtles Mapping the distributions of Aotearoa’s native myrtles Selection of indicator species for surveillance Improved myrtle rust surveillance Improved methods for mapping NZ's myrtles Researchers demonstrated that advanced sensors carried on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) can be used to help scientists monitor the impact of myrtle rust on susceptible species. They showed that the technology could be used to...
If you plan to replace or plant conifer trees on your property, wherever possible choose species that won’t infest other areas of your (or your neighbours’) land and create an ongoing management problem. There are several things to consider when thinking about what to plant and where you are planting. Right Tree for Your Place Wilding Spread Risk Calculator National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) - know your obligations Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) obligations Sit...