Coarse Leaf Pink Myoporum

Coarse Leaf Pink Myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) is the Australian native groundcover to reach for when you have a bank, a verge or a wide bed and no interest in mowing it. It stays about 15cm high and runs to 2m across, rooting as it goes. Small pink and white star flowers appear through the warmer months and bees work them steadily.

Why you'll love it

• It covers ground fast. One plant spreads to about 2m, so a metre grid closes over in roughly two seasons.
• Almost flat. At 15cm high it hugs the soil, suppressing weeds without hiding a retaining wall or a rock face.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant and salt tolerant, which covers most difficult sites.
• Australian native. Naturally occurring across southern Australia, and a reliable forage plant for bees and butterflies.
• Low maintenance. No mowing, no staking, just an occasional edge trim.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 1m apart for complete cover in about two seasons. Closer spacing costs more without closing much faster, since each plant runs the same distance regardless.

Slopes and retaining walls. The rooting stems bind loose soil, which makes it a practical erosion control plant on a batter or an embankment, and it trails well over a wall.

Coastal gardens and rockeries. Salt and drought tolerance suit exposed foreshore blocks and gravel beds where little else will run.

Growing Coarse Leaf Pink Myoporum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest, flattest growth. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, so Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and inland districts all work. In the humid subtropics and tropics it is less reliable, because constant wet warmth encourages stem rot within the mat.

Soil. Free draining and not too rich. Sand, gravel, loam and shallow soil over rock all suit it. Heavy clay is the one to watch: mound each planting position.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to get the runners moving, then only in prolonged dry weather. If growth is slow, a light native fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Trim the edges whenever it creeps over a path. Every second or third year, shear the whole planting back by about a third in early spring to refresh the mat and stop it building up woody, bare centres.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in three sizes: tube stock, 140mm plants in packs of ten, and 200mm plants in packs of six. Tubes are the value option for a large area, because a fast grower closes the gap anyway. The larger packs give a head start, worth the difference on a small, visible bed.

The runners are brittle, so expect a few snapped stems on arrival. It makes no difference: the plant branches from the base and grows away regardless. Plant at the same depth it sat in the pot, water in, and expect runners moving within a month in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to choosing groundcover plants.
• Browse the full groundcover range.
• Plants for retaining walls and slopes.
• Australian natives for the rest of a low water garden.

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

At 1m spacing, one plant per square metre. A pack of ten 140mm plants therefore covers roughly ten square metres and closes over in about two seasons.

Will it take over the garden?

It spreads by running stems rather than by seed or suckers, so it stays where you trim it. An edge trim once or twice a year holds a boundary comfortably.

Can I walk on it?

Light, occasional foot traffic is fine, but it is not a lawn substitute for a play area.

Does it handle frost?

Yes. It comes through cold southern and inland winters without damage, which is one reason it is planted so widely on road verges.