Myrtle Rust & Myrtaceae Family Quarantine: What You Need to Know
Myrtle rust is the single biggest reason that certain plants cannot be shipped to Western Australia, Tasmania, or the Northern Territory. If you’ve ever tried to send a Lilly Pilly to Perth, a Bottlebrush to Hobart, or a Eucalyptus to Darwin, you’ve encountered the impact of this devastating fungal pathogen.
This guide explains what myrtle rust is, why it has reshaped Australia’s interstate plant quarantine landscape, exactly which species are affected, and what alternatives exist for collectors and landscapers in quarantine states who want Australian native plants.
What Is Myrtle Rust?
Myrtle rust is caused by the fungal pathogen Austropuccinia psidii (previously classified as Puccinia psidii). It attacks plants in the Myrtaceae family — one of Australia’s most important and diverse plant families, containing iconic species like eucalypts, tea trees, bottlebrushes, and lilly pillies.
The disease produces distinctive bright yellow-orange pustules on new growth, leaves, and stems. In severe infections, it causes leaf distortion, shoot dieback, stunted growth, and can kill susceptible species entirely. Young growth and seedlings are particularly vulnerable.
Myrtle Rust Timeline in Australia
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April 2010: First Detection
Myrtle rust was first detected in Australia on the NSW Central Coast at a production nursery growing native plants. This was a watershed moment for Australian biosecurity — the pathogen had been known in South America but was never supposed to reach Australia’s unique Myrtaceae flora.
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2010-2011: Rapid Spread Through Eastern States
Despite emergency containment efforts, myrtle rust spread rapidly through NSW, then into Queensland and Victoria. The airborne spores proved impossible to contain. Within 18 months, the disease was established across most of eastern Australia’s coastal regions.
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2012-2015: Establishment and Impact Assessment
Myrtle rust became permanently established in QLD, NSW, and VIC. Research identified over 350 Australian Myrtaceae species as susceptible hosts. Some species — particularly Rhodamnia rubescens (Scrub Turpentine) and Rhodomyrtus psidioides (Native Guava) — suffered catastrophic population declines and were listed as critically endangered.
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2015-Present: Quarantine Tightening
WA, Tasmania, and the NT progressively tightened restrictions on Myrtaceae imports to prevent the pathogen crossing their borders. Western Australia imposed a complete ban on all Myrtaceae plant material. Tasmania and the NT implemented strict prohibitions with limited exceptions under controlled conditions.
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2026: Current Status
Myrtle rust remains endemic across eastern Australia. WA, Tasmania, and large parts of the NT remain free of the disease — protected by their quarantine barriers. Research into resistant cultivars continues, but no practical control exists for wild populations. Interstate Myrtaceae restrictions show no sign of easing.
The Myrtaceae Family: Which Plants Are Affected?
Myrtaceae is one of the largest and most ecologically important plant families in Australia, comprising over 1,700 native species. Many are beloved garden plants, landscaping staples, and bushland icons. Here are the major genera affected by myrtle rust quarantine restrictions:
Eucalyptus
Australia’s most iconic genus with over 700 species. Includes gum trees, mallee, and many timber species. All Eucalyptus species are restricted from entering WA, TAS, and NT as plant material. Seeds may have different conditions depending on the jurisdiction.
Melaleuca (Tea Tree)
Over 230 species of paperbarks and tea trees. Includes the commercially important M. alternifolia (tea tree oil). All Melaleuca species face myrtle rust quarantine restrictions. Popular garden varieties like M. linariifolia (Snow in Summer) cannot be shipped to quarantine states.
Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
Now reclassified within Melaleuca by some taxonomists, Callistemon species remain universally recognised as iconic Australian garden plants. The bright red, pink, or white bottlebrush flowers are a garden favourite — but all species are prohibited from entering quarantine states.
Leptospermum (Tea Tree / Manuka)
Around 80 species including the ornamentally popular L. scoparium (Manuka/New Zealand Tea Tree). Commonly used in hedging, screening, and cottage gardens. All Leptospermum are restricted. This catches many gardeners by surprise when ordering online.
Syzygium (Lilly Pilly)
One of Australia’s most popular screening and hedging plants. Species like S. australe, S. smithii, and S. luehmannii (Riberry) are garden staples across eastern Australia. All Syzygium species are prohibited from quarantine states due to high myrtle rust susceptibility.
Backhousia (Lemon Myrtle)
Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) is a prized culinary herb and ornamental tree. Despite its commercial and cultural value, it’s a Myrtaceae member and cannot be shipped as plant material to WA, TAS, or NT. This is a common disappointment for food garden enthusiasts in those states.
State-by-State Myrtaceae Restrictions
Each quarantine jurisdiction handles Myrtaceae differently, though all three restrict imports to prevent myrtle rust introduction:
| State/Territory | Regulator | Myrtaceae Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | DPIRD | Complete Ban | No Myrtaceae plant material of any kind can enter WA. This is an absolute prohibition — no exceptions for ornamental varieties, no permits available, no treatment protocol that allows entry. WA considers myrtle rust an existential threat to its unique native flora. |
| Tasmania | Biosecurity Tasmania | Prohibited | All Myrtaceae plant material is prohibited from entering Tasmania. Tasmania remains free of myrtle rust and treats it as the highest biosecurity priority. Some limited research exemptions may exist under strict containment protocols, but these are not available for commercial or hobbyist use. |
| Northern Territory | DITT | Restricted Entry | The NT restricts Myrtaceae imports with conditions that vary by genus and origin. Some species may be permitted under strict treatment and certification protocols. Check current conditions with DITT before attempting any Myrtaceae shipment to the NT — restrictions are subject to change based on myrtle rust surveillance data. |
Common Mistakes: Myrtaceae Quarantine Pitfalls
These are the most frequent errors we see from sellers and collectors attempting to ship Myrtaceae to quarantine states:
Syzygium (Lilly Pilly) is one of the most commonly planted screening plants in eastern Australia, and many gardeners assume they can send cuttings or plants to friends and family in Tasmania. They cannot. All Syzygium are Myrtaceae and are prohibited. This is the single most common quarantine breach we encounter — well-meaning gardeners who don’t realise Lilly Pillies are related to eucalypts.
Callistemon (Bottlebrush) is an iconic Australian plant that many WA gardeners want to add to their collections from East Coast varieties. However, all Callistemon are Myrtaceae and absolutely prohibited from entering WA. Some sellers list Callistemon for online sale without noting quarantine restrictions, leading to seizures at the WA border and customer disputes.
Modern plant breeding has produced many hybrid ornamental plants with Myrtaceae parentage that aren’t immediately recognisable as Myrtaceae members. If you’re unsure whether a plant is in the Myrtaceae family, check its botanical classification before attempting to ship to quarantine states. Hybrids involving any Myrtaceae parent are treated as Myrtaceae for quarantine purposes.
While seed may have different import conditions than living plant material in some jurisdictions, Myrtaceae seeds are NOT automatically exempt from quarantine restrictions. Each jurisdiction has specific rules about seed imports — in many cases, Myrtaceae seeds face the same restrictions as whole plants. Always check seed-specific conditions before shipping.
Alternative Non-Myrtaceae Native Plants
If you’re a collector or landscaper in WA, Tasmania, or the NT wanting Australian native plants, plenty of beautiful non-Myrtaceae options can be shipped interstate legally. Here are popular alternatives:
Grevillea (Proteaceae)
Over 360 species of stunning flowering shrubs and trees. Grevilleas are not Myrtaceae and can generally be shipped to quarantine states with standard treatment and certification. Excellent screening, hedging, and feature plants. Bird-attracting flowers in red, pink, orange, yellow, and white.
Banksia (Proteaceae)
Iconic Australian genus with dramatic flower spikes and interesting seed cones. Banksias are Proteaceae, not Myrtaceae, and can enter quarantine states under standard conditions. Popular for gardens, cut flowers, and native landscaping. Over 170 species to choose from.
Acacia (Wattle) (Fabaceae)
Australia’s largest plant genus with over 1,000 species. Acacias are in the Fabaceae (pea) family — completely unrelated to Myrtaceae. Many species can be shipped interstate, though individual species should be checked against specific state restrictions. Golden wattle (A. pycnantha) is Australia’s national floral emblem.
Westringia (Lamiaceae)
Often called “coastal rosemary”, Westringia is in the Lamiaceae (mint) family — not Myrtaceae. An excellent substitute for Leptospermum hedging, Westringia species are hardy, compact, and flower prolifically. W. fruticosa and its cultivars are popular hedging choices that can be shipped to quarantine states.
Correa (Rutaceae)
Native fuchsias in the Rutaceae (citrus) family. Compact shrubs with bell-shaped flowers in red, pink, green, and cream. Correa species are generally permitted for interstate shipping and make excellent substitutes for small Myrtaceae shrubs in shaded or semi-shaded positions.
Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae)
A practical alternative to Lilly Pilly for screening and hedging. Pittosporum tenuifolium and native P. undulatum provide dense evergreen screening without Myrtaceae quarantine issues. Widely available in various leaf colours and growth habits.
Myrtle Rust and the Nursery Industry
For nurseries and commercial growers, myrtle rust has fundamentally changed the interstate trade in Australian native plants. Before 2010, Myrtaceae species moved freely across state borders. Today, an entire category of Australia’s most commercially important plants is effectively locked out of three jurisdictions.
Paradise Distributors has adapted our operations to this new reality. We maintain separate growing and processing areas for Myrtaceae and non-Myrtaceae stock, ensuring there is no cross-contamination risk. Our quarantine processing facility handles only non-Myrtaceae species destined for WA, Tasmania, and the NT — giving both our biosecurity inspectors and our quarantine-state customers confidence in the integrity of every shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. WA maintains a complete, absolute ban on all Myrtaceae plant material — no species, no cultivar, no form (seeds, cuttings, tissue culture, whole plants) can legally enter the state. There are no permits, no exemptions, and no treatment protocols that override this prohibition. This ban is unlikely to change as long as WA remains free of myrtle rust. If you need Myrtaceae for a WA garden, you must source from within Western Australia.
Myrtaceae seeds face the same general prohibition as plant material for entry to Tasmania. Biosecurity Tasmania restricts all Myrtaceae material to prevent myrtle rust introduction. Some very limited research exemptions may exist under strict containment conditions, but these are not available for commercial or hobbyist purposes. For practical purposes, consider Myrtaceae seeds as prohibited for Tasmania.
Yes. Chamelaucium is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is subject to the same quarantine restrictions as Eucalyptus, Callistemon, and other Myrtaceae genera. This is sometimes confusing because Geraldton Wax is native to Western Australia — but the quarantine restrictions apply to material entering WA from other states, not to plants already growing within WA. Chamelaucium grown in WA can be sold within WA without quarantine issues.
It’s unlikely in the foreseeable future. Myrtle rust is permanently established in eastern Australia with no eradication pathway. Until a reliable treatment, resistant cultivar program, or other breakthrough changes the equation, WA, Tasmania, and the NT will maintain their quarantine barriers. Research is ongoing — particularly into natural resistance in some Myrtaceae species — but practical outcomes are likely years or decades away.
Check the plant’s botanical classification. Myrtaceae members share certain characteristics: opposite leaves (in most species), aromatic oil glands visible as dots when leaves are held to light, and distinctive stamens that are often the showiest part of the flower (as in bottlebrush and eucalypt flowers). If in doubt, search the botanical name on a reliable taxonomy database like the Australian Plant Census or the Atlas of Living Australia. Or simply ask us — Paradise Distributors can confirm family classification for any plant you’re considering shipping interstate.
Yes. Processed plant products like essential oils, dried leaves for culinary use, and timber are generally not subject to the same restrictions as living plant material. The quarantine restrictions target viable plant tissue that could harbour myrtle rust spores — processed products that have been extracted, distilled, or dried beyond the point of viability are typically permitted. However, always check specific product conditions with the relevant state authority.
If Biosecurity Tasmania intercepts the shipment, the plants will be seized and destroyed. You may receive notification of the interception and could face penalties under Tasmania’s biosecurity legislation. Fines for individuals can reach $11,000 or more for serious breaches. If the shipment was not intercepted and reached the recipient, contact Biosecurity Tasmania immediately to arrange safe disposal — do not plant the Lilly Pilly, as it could introduce myrtle rust to Tasmania’s pristine environment.
Related Resources
WA Quarantine Service
Our dedicated Western Australia plant quarantine service — including WAOL compliance, treatment, and certification for all non-Myrtaceae species.
Tasmania Quarantine Service
Complete Tasmania plant shipping service covering Biosecurity Tasmania requirements, treatment, and express delivery across the island state.
Biosecurity Compliance Service
Our comprehensive interstate biosecurity compliance service for nurseries, landscapers, and commercial growers shipping across state borders.
Plant Health Certificate Guide
Everything you need to know about Plant Health Certificates — costs, process, validity periods, and common mistakes to avoid.
Need to Ship Native Plants Interstate?
Paradise Distributors has 30+ years of experience navigating Myrtaceae restrictions and interstate quarantine. We can advise on which native species are shippable to your destination, suggest non-Myrtaceae alternatives, and handle the entire certification process for permitted plants.
Paradise Distributors | 9 Paradise Place, Nambour QLD 4560