Myoporum laetum

Sunset

Myoporum laetum 'Carsonii', photo courtesy of San Marcos Growers

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Zones 8, 9, 14-17, 19-24

Full

Moderate, Minimal

Scrophulariaceae
Evergreen, Shrubs, Trees, Decorative fruit or berries

MYOPORUM

These evergreen shrubs and trees produce bell-shaped flowers that are attractive at close range but not showy; fruit small but colorful. Shiny dark green leaves with translucent dots. Tough and fast growing.

Myoporum laetum

Temperatures below 24°F (–4°C) can cause severe damage. Native to New Zealand. Exceptionally fast growth to 30 ft. tall, 20 ft. wide. Densely clothed in rather narrow leaves. If allowed to grow naturally, it forms a billowing mass, but it can be trained as an attractive multitrunked tree. To use it as a groundcover, peg down branches so they’ll root and spread. Clusters of smallwhite summer flowers with purple markings are followed by reddish purple fruits. Good seaside plant. Susceptible to myoporum thrips. ‘Clean n Green’ is a thrips-resistant variety similar to the species. ‘Compactum’ is a dense grower to 16 ft.; good choice for a tall hedge, with some resistance to thrips.