Duboisia myoporoides
corkwood
Eastern Australia and southwest Pacific
Overview
Duboisia myoporoides is an evergreen shrub to small tree native to eastern Australia and parts of the southwest Pacific, reaching 10–33 feet (3–10 m) tall. It carries a dense, rounded crown of soft, light green leaves 1.5–6 inches (4–15 cm) long, narrow and oval with a blunt tip and a slightly fleshy texture. The bark is thick, soft, and corky, giving the plant its common name. Small white bell-shaped flowers about 0.2–0.3 inch (5–8 mm) long appear in branched clusters, followed by rounded purple-black berries 0.2–0.4 inch (5–10 mm) across. All parts contain tropane alkaloids, chiefly hyoscyamine and scopolamine, and the species is grown commercially as a source of these compounds for the pharmaceutical industry. Ingestion of any part can cause serious poisoning in people and animals. Duboisia myoporoides grows in coastal and near-coastal forest margins, rainforest edges, and disturbed ground on a range of soils. It tolerates wind and salt-laden air, which suits it to exposed coastal sites, though it is frost-sensitive and limited to mild, largely frost-free climates.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland to southern New South Wales, with populations extending to New Caledonia and other parts of the southwest Pacific. It grows in coastal forest, rainforest margins, and disturbed sites.Suggested Uses
Duboisia myoporoides is used as a screening or windbreak shrub in mild coastal gardens and is grown in commercial plantations for pharmaceutical alkaloid production. Its salt and wind tolerance suits it to exposed seaside plantings in frost-free areas.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 33'
Width/Spread8' - 20'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer, from about September to December, though scattered flowers can appear at other times in warm climates. The white bell-shaped flowers are borne in branched clusters at the branch tips. Purple-black berries ripen in the weeks following flowering.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
light greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight