Fringed Heath Myrtle Prostrate

Fringed Heath Myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata, prostrate form) is a native groundcover for the spots nothing else will hold: dry banks, gravel, rockeries and thin soil. It stays under 300mm tall and spreads to about 1.2m, laying down a fine mat of tiny leaves. Through spring it covers itself in small white flowers that age to deep pink, so one plant carries two colours at once.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers that change colour. Buds open white and deepen to rose pink as they age, giving a long spring display across the whole mat.
• Low and wide. Under 300mm tall and around 1.2m across, so it covers ground without ever needing to be cut back off a path.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and happy in poor soil, which suits southern, inland and Mediterranean gardens alike.
• Food for pollinators. The massed flowers pull in native bees and butterflies when a dry garden has little else open.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 80cm apart for a dense groundcover. At that spacing the plants knit into a continuous mat within two seasons without crowding each other into rot.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Sharp drainage between stones is exactly what it wants, and the fine foliage softens hard rock without hiding it.

Retaining walls and slopes. Along the top of a wall it spills over the edge, and on a bank the spreading habit holds soil while needing no mowing or trimming.

Growing Fringed Heath Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, and it is frost hardy, so cold inland and southern districts are no obstacle. Humid tropical and wet subtropical gardens are the climate to avoid, since constant moisture rots the crown.

Soil. Sharp drainage is not optional. Sandy, gravelly and stony soils suit it as they are. On clay, build a raised bed 200mm above the surrounding level and open the mix with coarse sand. Use a gravel mulch, kept off the stems.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. It resents wet feet far more than drought. Feed sparingly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, or not at all in reasonable soil.

Pruning. A light shear after flowering keeps the mat dense and stops the centre opening up with age. Do not cut back into bare old wood, because it reshoots poorly from there.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown: single tubes, and 140mm pots sold in packs of ten. Tubes are young plants with a small root system and the economical way to cover a large bank, taking roughly two seasons to knit. The 140mm packs close the gaps a season faster, which suits a front garden bed.

Plants travel well because they are compact and woody. Plant within a few days, water in once, then keep the soil just damp rather than wet while the roots move out. 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

• Compare the full groundcover range.
• Browse plants for rockeries that share the same conditions.
• Read our guide to choosing ground cover plants.
• See what suits retaining walls and slopes.

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

At 80cm spacing, about one and a half plants per square metre, so a pack of ten covers roughly six to seven square metres. Tighter spacing raises the risk of crown rot without closing the gap much faster.

Will it handle frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy and native to cold inland country in south eastern Australia, so it suits the tablelands, inland Victoria and southern gardens.

Can I walk on it?

No. It is a spreading shrub rather than a lawn substitute, and foot traffic snaps the woody stems. Use steppers through the planting if you need access.