Myoporum parvifolium + cvs - Inland Valley Garden Planner

Image Gallery

Description

This very prostrate shrub grows 6-8 in. high and can quickly spread 12-15 ft. across and more. Its foliage is comprised of small medium green leaves, to 1 1/2 in. long, 1/8 in. wide with small teeth around leaf margins. Numerous white flowers occur in clusters along branches in early spring and intermittently throughout the year.

This species is native to hot and dry interior plains of southern Australia. In Southern California, it has proven to be a successful ornamental ground cover for slopes, medians and understory plantings. It tolerates heat and frost, and can be sustained with low amounts of supplemental water. It needs room to spread, but can easily be clipped along walkways and borders to fit the shape of planting spaces. Its best performance occurs for 5-6 years before some plants may die. The cultivar M. p. 'Putah Creek' has larger leaves that grow to 1 1/2 in. long.

Water Needs

Creeping myoporum grows well in Inland empire gardens in areas of full sun and with normal rainfall and low amounts of summer water. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water and you should make irrigation adjustments based of field observations of growth and character.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 2

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

1"-2"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Trailing, Spreading, Robust, Dense
Growth Rate: Fast
Height: 6 in. - 8 in.
Width: 12 ft. - 15 ft.
Water Needs: Low 2
Foliage Color: Medium green
Flower Color: White
Flower Season: Summer, Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Calcareous soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Heat, Frost, Fog, Coastal salt air, All day sun
Function: Slopes, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Mass planting, Foliage accent plant, Flowering accent plant, Commercial spaces, Banks, Background plant

Maintenance

This is a wide growing plant that will require edging or pruning to keep it "in bounds." Edge as needed along borders, sidewalks, driveways, etc., any time of year (D).

References