{"product_id":"heath-myrtle-baeckea-virgata","title":"Heath Myrtle - Baeckea virgata","description":"\u003cp\u003eHeath Myrtle (\u003cem\u003eBaeckea virgata\u003c\/em\u003e) 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA weeping, cascading habit.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine stems arch and drape in an elegant curtain, so a planting looks relaxed even when it is dense.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMasses of white flowers.\u003c\/strong\u003e Small white blooms, reminiscent of tea tree, cover the stems and brighten the dark foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBirds and butterflies.\u003c\/strong\u003e The flowers and dense cover bring birdlife and butterflies into a native or wildlife garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdaptable and tough.\u003c\/strong\u003e It copes with a range of sites, and established plants tolerate dry periods and frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForgiving of shaping.\u003c\/strong\u003e It takes topiary well and can be cut hard back to renew an overgrown plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformal screens.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClipped hedges and shapes.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife and native gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mix it with banksias, grevilleas and native grasses so birds and butterflies have flowers, seed and shelter within a few metres of each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Heath Myrtle in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Any well drained soil will do. Avoid positions where water stands after rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Prune yearly to encourage dense growth. If a plant becomes straggly or overgrown, it can be cut hard back to rejuvenate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants travel upright and settle quickly. Water them in on arrival, mulch the base, and keep the moisture up until the roots have taken hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/designing-a-native-australian-garden-to-attract-wildlife\"\u003eDesigning a native garden to attract wildlife\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants-2m-to-4m\"\u003eScreening plants from 2m to 4m\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/best-hedging-plants\"\u003eCompare the best hedging plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bird-attracting\"\u003eMore bird attracting plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy does it have so many names?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBotanists 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow is it different from Compacta Dwarf Twiggy Myrtle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompacta 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I cut it back hard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. If it becomes overgrown it can be cut hard back to rejuvenate. Keep it watered while it recovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":67787166515519,"sku":"BAE-VIR-tube","price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/heath-myrtle-baeckea-virgata.jpg?v=1792149389","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/heath-myrtle-baeckea-virgata","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}