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Red blotches and edges on common myrtle subspecies

edward.henighanaEy29Ik5edward.henighanaEy29Ik5 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can help me work out what's up with a pair of variegated myrtles in my garden? One is in the back garden and was transplanted earlier this year, but the other is in the front and hasn't been touched - but they're both showing the same thing: bold red edges (or red blotches) on the variegated leaves, and leaf loss.

I've attached pictures of the problem on both bushes. I'm confident they're a common myrtle subspecies because I've seen them flower and fruit to match (can't find the photos) and both have branches where they've lost the variegation which makes it more obvious - can try to find pics of that if needed.

The only myrtle disease I can find is myrtle rust but it just doesn't look like the pictures I can find, and that seems to be an Aus/NZ problem anyway.

Any ideas, anyone? Thanks in advance!

Recently transplanted, small tree in the back garden:


Left alone, small dense shrub in the front garden:

Posts

  • edward.henighanaEy29Ik5edward.henighanaEy29Ik5 Posts: 5
    Flowering and fruiting:


    Branches with lost variegation:

  • edward.henighanaEy29Ik5edward.henighanaEy29Ik5 Posts: 5
    Should have said, common or Chilean myrtle subspecies - my plant app keeps changing its mind depending on which bit of the bush I show it :#
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I think your bushes are Luma Apiculata. Chilean Myrtle. The variegated one is 'Glanleam Gold' which I have seen in several garden centres to show red edging, particularly on newer leaves. I think it is a characteristic rather than a disease. They tend to have that during the winter months. They grow out of it, or you prune the leaves out.

    To be sure which myrtle, the common myrtle fruit is matt looking, whilst Chilean Myrtle fruits are glossy.
  • edward.henighanaEy29Ik5edward.henighanaEy29Ik5 Posts: 5
    Thanks @Borderline! :)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You can prune out the reverted plain green branches if you don't want them. Left alone they'll probably be stronger-growing than the variegated parts and might eventually take over.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • edward.henighanaEy29Ik5edward.henighanaEy29Ik5 Posts: 5
    @JennyJ my wife and I actually prefer the reverted branches! We inherited the tree when we moved in - it's lovely both ways, especially when flowering, but the darker leaves are our favourite :)
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    In that case leave them, no problem :smiley:
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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