Myoporum floribundum

Family: Scrophulariaceae
Distribution: Eastern New South Wales and Victoria in open forest, but not common
Common Name: Slender myoporum
Conservation Status: Not currently listed as threatened under the EPBC Act^*. However, regarded as rare but not facing any current identifiable threat. Classified as 3RCi under the ROTAP* system
Derivation of Name: Myoporum… from Greek myo, to shut, and poros, a pore; ie, ‘closed pores’ – referring to the appearance of the glands on the leaves.
floribundum… from Latin floribundus, profusely flowering

General Description:

Myoporum is a genus of about 30 species, of which sixteen are found in Australia. M.floribundum is perhaps the best known in cultivation. It is an open shrub to about 2.5 – 3 metres tall with warty stems. The narrow leaves (up to 10 cm long) hang down from the stems in a fairly distinctive nature (although Myoporum bateae sometimes has a similar habit). The white flowers occur in clusters from the leaf axils, mainly in spring. Individually the flowers are small (5 – 6 mm diameter) but they are usually profuse, giving the plant the appearance of being covered in snow. The flowers are perfumed.

Myoporum floribundum has been in cultivation for many years and has proved to be reliable in temperate areas in a sunny or semi-shaded location. It is drought tolerant once established (although it may take on a wilted appearance under such conditions) and is frost tolerant. The plant resents pruning once mature so light pruning to shape in its early stages is preferable.

Propagation from seed is usually successful without any pretreatment but germination may be slow. Cuttings of hardened, current season’s growth strike easily and this is the preferred method of propagation.