Myoporum parvifolium - Creeping boobialla is found growing on limestone cliffs, along river flats and in woodland in sandy sometimes saline soils...
Myoporum parvifolium, also called as Creeping boobialla, Creeping myoporum, Dwarf native myrtle, Small leaved myoporum, Myoporum humile, Myoporum verrucosum, Pogonia aspera, Pogonia scabra, Pogonia tuberculata, Pogonia verrucosa, is a species of the genus Myoporum. This species was described by Robert Brown in 1810.
IDENTIFY MYOPORUM PARVIFOLIUM - CREEPING BOOBIALLA
Myoporum parvifolium is native to New South Wales, South Australia,
Tasmania, Victoria. It was introduced into California. It is found growing on
limestone cliffs, along river flats and in woodland in sandy sometimes saline
soils.
It is a relatively short-lived, evergreen perennial ground cover, fast growing to 3 metres in diameter that forms adventitious roots on stolon-like, prostrate branches. The leaves are small, lanceolate, sessile, to 1 inch long, bright green and fleshy. They are arranged alternately, sometimes have a few serrations on the margins near the leaf tip and sometimes have raised, wart-like tubercles on their surface.
Creeping boobialla blooms in winter to summer from the the leaf axils with 7.5–33 mm long stalk with white with purple spots flowers. The flowers can either be solitary or in small clusters, lance-shaped sepals along with five petals, all of which join together at the base forming a small tube. Flowering is followed by the production of small, round, and succulent yellowish-white berries, which turn purple upon maturity.
MYOPORUM PARVIFOLIUM - CREEPING BOOBIALLA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Myoporum parvifolium prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade with at least five hours of direct sunlight each day. In a particularly hot area, the plant need ample protection from strong wind and direct afternoon sun. Around buildings, they do best on the east or north side.
Temperature:
Creeping boobialla can grow outdoors in USDA zone 9-11. It will tolerate lower temperatures to -5° C although it will slow growth and flowering. Once established the plants tolerates light frost, however, containers should be brought indoors to a cool bright room for overwintering as houseplants before first fall frost. When grown indoor, maintain the temperature of above 13 °C.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Myoporum parvifolium is best grown in dry, acidic, organically rich, fertile, well-drained soils. They don't like alkaline soils (those soils with a pH of 7 or above), but flourish in slightly acidic soils with a pH of around 5.5 to 6.5. If the soil is not acidic enough the leaf burns at the edges, turns brown and eventually the leaves dies. If that happens, correct the soil acidity by adding sulphur on the ground, around the roots, or use an acidifying fertiliser.
The plants can also be grown in containers with the potting mix of peat-based soil and perlite, sand, or vermiculite. Repot is best done in spring. Note the size of the the plant that you want to repot, and size your container no more than 1-2 inches larger than the one your plant is currently residing in.
Mulching:
Use mulches to control weeds, conserve moisture, and provide more uniform soil temperatures. Mulches can be made of sawdust, bark dust, peat moss, straw, or other organic materials. If these materials are incorporated into the soil after serving as a mulch, add some nitrogen to assist in decomposition of the woody materials.
Watering:
Water the newly planted plant once a week or when the upper 2” inches layer of the soil has dried out. The plant is highly drought-tolerant and can survive long dry spells, so reduce the watering once the shrub gets established. Do not keep the planting area flooded with water, as the plant can develop root rot.
Fertilizer:
Feed with slow-release, low-phosphorus fertilizer at the time of planting, and again each year in late fall or early spring, or both if it seems to need the extra nutrition. Follow the manufacturer's label instructions for rates.
Pruning:
Creeping boobialla do need pruning to control the size. Prune the plant after they finish flowering, usually in early spring. Do not prune in late fall or winter, as the plant will be more susceptible to damage from frosts or freezes. Cut plants damaged by frosts or freezes down to the ground in spring, as new growth might grow back from the roots. Remove spent flowers to encourage the plant to produce more blooms. The plant may require partial or complete removal after 5 to 10 years because of a tendency to buildup of under canopy woody material.
Pests and diseases:
Myoporum parvifolium may get affected by chocolate root rot and spider mites. While the flower color of this prostratum species is inconspicuous, the plant attracts bees during the bloom time but is deer-resistant.
Propagation:
Creeping boobialla is easy rooted from succulent softwood stem cuttings or layering. Stoloniferous stems (stems that trail along the ground) will often produce adventitious roots in the landscape unless the plant is planted in gravel covered landscape beds with drip irrigation.
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