Coastal Boobialla

Coastal Boobialla (Myoporum ellipticum) is a neat, spreading, evergreen Australian native groundcover that stays low, at about 20cm to 30cm high, and spreads 1.5m to 5m wide. Its bright, fleshy leaves stand up to full sun and sea spray, and white flowers open in spring. It is the one to reach for on a seaside bank or rockery where other groundcovers scorch.

Why you'll love it

• Stands up to sea spray. The fleshy leaves take full sun, salt wind and spray that damage many other plants.
• Low and spreading. At 20cm to 30cm high it carpets open ground and cascades neatly over walls.
• Holds banks. Planted on embankments it helps control erosion.
• Frost tolerant and humidity friendly. It copes with frost and is suited to humid, even tropical, planting.
• Easy to look after. Mulch, water it in, trim to keep it tidy and feed once a year.

Where it works best

Coastal gardens. Use it at the front of seaside beds, where salt wind rules out most groundcovers.

Banks and embankments. Plant 1m apart across the slope. The plants join up as they spread, binding the surface as they go.

Rockeries and walls. Let it cascade over rock edges and low walls, where its low, bright growth softens hard lines.

Growing Coastal Boobialla in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is frost tolerant and suited to humid conditions, so it grows from tropical and subtropical gardens down to cooler temperate ones.

Soil. Free-draining soil. Avoid clay. If your ground is heavy, build a raised mound or choose a different groundcover.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well while it establishes. Fertilise once a year with a slow release native fertiliser. Established plants cope with dry spells.

Pruning. Prune as required to keep a tidy habit, cutting back any stems that stray onto paths and keeping the edges neat along walls and rockery stones.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Coastal Boobialla as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. A tube is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, so tube stock is the economical way to cover a large area. The 140mm packs give a bank or rockery a faster start. Both travel well, and growth picks up once the soil warms.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Myoporum and creeping boobialla range
• More groundcover plants
• Planning a coastal garden that survives salt and wind
• Plants for retaining walls and banks

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 1m apart for groundcover. The plants spread to 1.5m or more, so they join up and cover the ground without crowding at planting time.

Will it grow in clay?

It prefers free-draining soil and does not like clay. In heavy ground, plant on a raised mound or add coarse material before planting.

Does it suit humid climates?

Yes. It is frost tolerant and suited to humid conditions, so it works in tropical and subtropical gardens as well as cooler ones.