Heath Myrtle

Heath Myrtle (Baeckea virgata) is a hardy, dense native shrub that grows 2 to 4m tall and 2 to 3m wide, with tiny dark leaves on cascading stems and masses of small white flowers. It is the plant to choose for a soft, informal screen that birds and butterflies will use, in a garden that suits a bush more than a clipped wall.

Why you'll love it

• A weeping, cascading habit. Fine stems arch and drape in an elegant curtain, so a planting looks relaxed even when it is dense.
• Masses of white flowers. Small white blooms, reminiscent of tea tree, cover the stems and brighten the dark foliage.
• Birds and butterflies. The flowers and dense cover bring birdlife and butterflies into a native or wildlife garden.
• Adaptable and tough. It copes with a range of sites, and established plants tolerate dry periods and frost.
• Forgiving of shaping. It takes topiary well and can be cut hard back to renew an overgrown plant.

Where it works best

Informal screens. Plant 1.2m apart in a single or staggered row. As the shrubs reach their 2 to 3m width they merge into one soft screen that filters the view rather than walling it off.

Clipped hedges and shapes. It topiarises well, so it can be held as a trimmed hedge or sculpted into rounded forms. For a tighter hedge, close the spacing to 1m and trim regularly.

Wildlife and native gardens. Mix it with banksias, grevilleas and native grasses so birds and butterflies have flowers, seed and shelter within a few metres of each other.

Growing Heath Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in full sun. It adapts to a wide range of conditions and suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, tolerating frost and dry spells once established.

Soil. Any well drained soil will do. Avoid positions where water stands after rain.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Prune yearly to encourage dense growth. If a plant becomes straggly or overgrown, it can be cut hard back to rejuvenate.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Heath Myrtle as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It is the economical way to plant a long screen, but tube stock is small and a screen of 2m or more takes several seasons. For the first year, think of it as a young hedge being built, not an instant one.

Plants travel upright and settle quickly. Water them in on arrival, mulch the base, and keep the moisture up until the roots have taken hold.

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

• Designing a native garden to attract wildlife
• Screening plants from 2m to 4m
• Compare the best hedging plants
• More bird attracting plants

Common questions

Why does it have so many names?

Botanists have moved it between genera several times, so you may see it sold as Babingtonia virgata or Sannantha similis. They refer to the same kind of shrub we list here as Baeckea virgata.

How is it different from Compacta Dwarf Twiggy Myrtle?

Compacta is the dwarf form, about 75cm tall. Heath Myrtle is the tall species form at 2 to 4m, with a more cascading habit, so it suits screening rather than low hedging.

Can I cut it back hard?

Yes. If it becomes overgrown it can be cut hard back to rejuvenate. Keep it watered while it recovers.