Myoporum is an evergreen ground cover that’s peppered with small white flowers spring through summer. If you miss seeing expanses of green, this plant really is “grass green.” Here’s how to grow and care for this Australian native.
Myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) is a low-maintenance, evergreen ground cover. Its small leaves are bright green, a color you don’t often see in the desert palette. Petite star-shaped flowers appear in spring and summer. They are usually pure white, but are occasionally tinged with pink or lavender. There’s also a variety that has pink flowers.
Stems grow fast and symmetrically in every direction, and can root where they touch the ground, forming a beautiful, dense, emerald carpet.
Myoporum is native to Australia, not the desert southwest, but thrives in our desert sun and temperature extremes.
If you miss the seeing restful expanses of green, consider myoporum. This plant grows fast, stays low (no mowing!), and really is “grass green.”
Why I Like This Plant
- Evergreen leaves with white flowers
- Grows fast, but manageably
- Symmetric, sprawling form
- Heat and sun tolerant, low-maintenance
- Non-toxic, no thorns, no litter
Things to Watch Out For
Myoporum is a moderate rather than low water use plant. Yet, it’s critical that you not overwater it. Too much water results in root rot and weak, rampant growth. To achieve that Goldilocks zone, your soil must be well-draining.
Plants can develop spider mites. You’ll recognize them by the white webbing they leave on your plants, usually during hot, dry weather. If you find any, blasting them with your hose should largely take care of them
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a myoporum to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Myoporum should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. Plants are surprisingly heat tolerant — up to 115℉. During winter, they stay evergreen and are cold-hardy down to 15℉.
Sun Exposure
Myoporum prefers full sun or part shade, but tolerates the reflected heat off sidewalks and driveways.
Size and Growth Rate
Myoporum grows fast. It stays a short 6 to 8 inches, but rapidly spreads to form a surprisingly symmetric circle 6 feet across. Fortunately, its size is easily kept in check by pruning
Soil
Even though this plant is sometimes recommended as a grass alternative, it’s not grass-like when it comes to foot traffic. Plant it where it can be admired, but not walked on. Stems are brittle and easily broken.
In its native habitat, myoporum grows in sandy or clay soil. But it will grow in most desert soils, provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Myoporum’s low, sprawling habit makes it a good choice for planting on slopes or for erosion control or for cascading over a garden wall.
It makes a great understory plant for shrubs or small, airy trees. Use it to line walkways or at the front of a garden but give it plenty of room so you aren’t constantly trimming it.
Myoporum:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Myoporum |
| Scientific Name | Myoporum parvifolium |
| Origin | Australia |
| Plant Type | Evergreen ground cover |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 15℉ |
| Flower Color | White |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer |
| Mature Size | 8″ tall x 6’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot, spider mites |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic, no litter |
| Wildlife | Attracts bees Rabbit resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any ground cover is to dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
It’s generally recommended that you backfill with only native soil and not add any amendments. However, with myporoum, good drainage is critical. So if you know or suspect that your soil is slow draining, amend with coarse sand or small gravel until you have a loose, well-drained mix.
When to Plant
The best time to plant myoporum is in the fall. This gives your plant three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Myoporum
Whether you’ve recently planted a myoporum or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
Once you’ve got your myoporum in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. The University of Arizona recommends watering newly planted ground covers every 2 to 3 days for the first 2 to 4 weeks. After that, water once a week for the next two weeks, and then every 10 to 14 days after that.
How much water you should give your plant with each watering depends on the diameter of your plant and will change as it grows. You can use this chart as a guide.
| 1 foot diameter | .5 gallons |
| 2 feet diameter | 2 gallons |
| 3 feet diameter | 3.5 gallons |
| 4 feet diameter | 5 gallons |
| 5 feet diameter | 7 gallons |
Should You Fertilize?
Myoporum does not need to be fertilized. It naturally thrives in poor soil and grows vigorously without it.
Pruning & Propagation
This low but wide, sprawling plant can be trimmed anytime it encroaches on sidewalks, driveways, paths, or anywhere else you don’t want it to be. If it’s looking unkempt after winter, lightly trim it in the spring to rejuvenate or remove any damaged growth. You can use your cuttings to propagate new plants.
You can also propagate by layering. When stems are in contact with the soil, they’ll grow new roots. (You can help keep stems in place with landscape fabric pins.) You can use these newly-rooted sections to create new plants.
Plant Lover Facts
Myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) has no special common name and is usually just called myoporum, but in its native Australia it goes by the name creeping boobialla.
Myoporum’s native range includes subtropical areas of southwest Australia — New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.
This plant’s hardiness has led to it be used as root stock for grafting onto Eremophila species. (The Myoporum and Eremophila genera belong to the same plant family — Scrophulariaceae.) The Eremophila genus includes the “emu bushes” (i.e., Easter egg emu, blue bells emu, and outback sunrise emu).
Have you grown this plant?
Was it a “hit” or a “miss” in your garden?
Please share your experience in the comments below!
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credits
Arizona State University’s Virtual Library of Phoenix Landscape Plants
Stickpen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons