Creeping boobialla

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; growth is denser and flowering better in sun.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; once rooted, water deeply during prolonged dry spells rather than little and often.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates relatively poor soil and coastal conditions but dislikes waterlogged ground.

Height

0.3-1 ft (0.1-0.3 m)

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Flowers

Spring through summer, sometimes into autumn in mild climates; small white flowers, often with purple spotting.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, narrow green leaves on trailing, woody stems; leaf width and shade vary between forms.

Growth

Fast in warm weather; stems root where they touch suitable soil.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.2 ft (0.05 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.5 ft (0.14 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.7 ft (0.2 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Water the root zone regularly through the first growing season, allowing the surface to dry between waterings.
• Plant in freely draining soil; use a raised bed or container where winter ground stays wet.
• Leave room for its mature spread and keep trailing stems out of neighbouring plants.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; rich feeding encourages excessive soft growth.
• Keep mulch away from the crown and avoid routine overhead watering.

Pruning. Trim spreading shoots in spring and after flowering to keep plants within bounds and encourage dense growth. Remove dead stems and lightly shorten thin patches rather than cutting the whole plant hard into bare old wood.

Spring

Plant after the risk of damaging frost has passed and water thoroughly.

Late spring

Trim frost-damaged tips once new growth shows which stems are alive.

Summer

Check newly planted specimens frequently and water established plants during extended drought.

Late summer

Shorten shoots encroaching on paths and take cuttings from healthy non-flowering growth.

Autumn

Clear leaves and debris from the mat and check that water drains away from the crown.

Winter

Keep container plants on the dry side and move them under frost-free cover in colder regions.

• Cover sunny banks with a low evergreen mat that helps protect the soil once established.
• Let stems trail over low retaining walls to soften hard edges.
• Plant beneath widely spaced drought-tolerant shrubs, keeping their crowns clear.
• Use beside gravel paths with lavender and rock roses for contrasting foliage and a low flowering layer.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Coastal, Mediterranean, Desert / xeriscape, Dry gravel garden and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rock rose, Coastal rosemary, Kangaroo paw, Blue fescue and Lomandra.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for small insects, including bees. The low mat offers shelter for invertebrates, but it is not a suitable groundcover for regular foot traffic.

• Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly affected plants in a drier position.
• Myoporum thrips can distort and curl new growth, particularly in affected parts of California: inspect shoot tips, avoid moving infested cuttings and seek local advice before treatment.
• Frost damage can blacken leaves and kill shoots: grow in a sheltered position and wait until spring growth begins before pruning damage.
• Thin or bare patches can develop in heavy shade or ageing mats: improve light, lightly trim surrounding shoots or replace patches with rooted cuttings.

Myoporum plants can contain liver-damaging toxins, especially in their leaves, and poisoning is a serious concern for grazing livestock, including horses. Species-specific evidence for creeping boobialla in cats, dogs and people is limited, so do not assume the foliage or small fruits are safe to eat; keep it away from grazing animals and seek veterinary or poison-control advice after ingestion.

• Slender myoporum (Myoporum insulare)

  Usually forms an upright shrub or small tree with larger, broader leaves rather than a low, fine-leaved carpet.

• Ngaio (Myoporum laetum)

  Forms a large shrub or tree with much larger, glossy leaves showing conspicuous translucent dots when held to the light.

• Creeping mazus (Mazus reptans)

  Has rounded, toothed leaves and larger, two-lipped purple or white flowers; it favours moist soil rather than dry, freely drained beds.

The species name parvifolium means 'small-leaved', referring to its foliage.

Propagation. Take softwood or semi-ripe stem cuttings in spring or summer and root them in a free-draining medium. You can also lift and transplant sections where trailing stems have already rooted.

Accepted botanical name

Myoporum parvifolium

Native range

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.