Compacta Dwarf Twiggy Myrtle

Compacta Dwarf Twiggy Myrtle (Baeckea virgata 'Compacta') is a hip high native shrub, about 75cm tall and 1m wide, with fine foliage that opens bronze and ages to green. Masses of small white flowers and a tidy habit make it a good pick for a low informal hedge, a rockery or a wildlife garden. It takes clipping well, too.

Why you'll love it

• Bronze new growth. Fresh shoots come through a rich bronze before maturing to very fine green foliage, so the shrub changes colour as it grows.
• A mass of white flowers. Small white flowers smother the plant when it is in bloom and lift the fine foliage.
• The right size for low hedges. At about 75cm tall it makes a knee to hip high hedge that needs far less trimming than a taller species.
• Wildlife friendly. The flowers and dense foliage attract birds, which makes it a useful addition to a native garden.
• Tough once settled. Established plants tolerate dry periods and frost, and the compact form suits coastal planting.

Where it works best

Low informal hedges. Plant 60cm apart in a single row. At that spacing the shrubs grow together into a continuous knee to hip high line without crowding each other at the base.

Rockeries and borders. The small scale and fine texture sit well among stone and gravel. Where you want a spreading cover rather than a hedge, plant 80cm apart along a bank or dry edge.

Coastal and native gardens. It suits coastal planting and mixes happily with grevilleas, correas and native grasses, giving a soft flowering base layer.

Clipped shapes. It shapes well, so small domes and topiary forms are possible with a light trim.

Growing Compacta Dwarf Twiggy Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and established plants tolerate frost and dry spells. In frosty districts, shelter young plants through their first winter.

Soil. Well drained soil is the key requirement. In heavy clay, plant on a low mound with coarse compost mixed through, so water drains away from the roots.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks, then let it cope with dry periods on its own. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Prune lightly once a year to encourage dense growth. A second light trim keeps a clipped shape or a hedge line crisp.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Compacta Dwarf Twiggy Myrtle as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once planted. Tube stock is the practical way to plant a long run of low hedge, but the plants start small, so allow a couple of seasons for the line to knit together and fill out.

Plants travel upright and settle quickly. Water them in on arrival and expect fresh bronze shoots as the weather 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

• Low hedge plants under one metre for front gardens
• Compare the best hedging plants
• More plants for rockeries
• Browse Australian native plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?

Sixty centimetres apart in a single row. Wider spacing leaves gaps for a season or two, and closer planting only crowds the bases.

How tall does it grow?

About 75cm tall and 1m wide, so it stays a low shrub. If you want a taller screen, the species form, Heath Myrtle, reaches 2 to 4m.

Is it frost hardy?

Established plants tolerate frost and dry periods. Young plants have not built that toughness yet, so protect them in their first winter where frosts are heavy.