Lomatia myricoides

river lomatia

SE Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, ACT; riverbanks, moist gullies, forest margins in Great Dividing Range; 1000-5000 ft / 300-1500 m)

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Lomatia myricoides is an evergreen upright shrub reaching 6–12 feet (1.8–3.6 m) tall with a spread of 4–8 feet (1.2–2.4 m). This southeastern Australian member of the Proteaceae spp. carries narrow lance-shaped to linear leaves 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) long and 0.2–0.5 inches (5–12 mm) wide that run dark green and leathery with serrated margins and resemble willow or bayberry foliage—the specific epithet 'myricoides' translates directly to 'resembling Myrica spp.' and references this leaf-shape similarity. Small creamy-white to ivory flowers 0.3–0.5 inches (8–12 mm) across with recurved tepals in the typical Proteaceae spp. pattern open in axillary racemes 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long. Bloom timing in the native Southern Hemisphere range runs December through February; in Northern Hemisphere cultivation the bloom shifts to June through August. Woody boat-shaped follicle fruit develops after the flowers and splits open at maturity to release winged seeds. Gray-brown smooth bark on young wood develops shallow fissures on older trunks. Growth rate is moderate. Hardy to zone 8.

Native Range

Lomatia myricoides is native to southeastern Australia across New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, growing along riverbanks, in moist gullies, and at forest margins in the Great Dividing Range at 1,000–5,000 feet (300–1,500 m) elevation. The species' riparian and gully-margin native ecology translates in garden cultivation to a preference for consistent soil moisture combined with the sharp drainage characteristic of sloping watercourse positions.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a specimen, evergreen screen, or woodland-garden shrub at 4–6 foot (1.2–1.8 m) spacing in zone-8-and-warmer gardens. Narrow willow-like evergreen foliage supplies narrow-textured year-round screening and contrasts with broad-leaved companion shrubs in mixed plantings. Proteaceae spp. family membership makes the species of botanical interest in plant collections and Australian-native garden designs. Sensitivity to high-phosphorus fertilizers requires adapted soil-nutrition management that differs from standard garden shrub care. Acidic soil is required for successful cultivation. Limited cold hardiness restricts the species to zone 8 and warmer or to sheltered zone-7 microclimate positions. Alkaline soils, exposed cold sites, and heavy clay with poor drainage are poor fits for the species.

How to Identify

Separated from Lomatia tinctoria (another Australian Lomatia spp. species in cultivation) by the taller more-upright mature habit (6–12 feet versus 3–5 feet for L. tinctoria) and by the narrow entire-to-serrated leaves (versus the deeply pinnately lobed leaves of L. tinctoria). Separated from Grevillea spp. species (in the same family) by the axillary flower racemes (versus terminal flower clusters of Grevillea spp.) and by the narrow willow-like leaves (versus the variable leaf forms of Grevillea spp.). Separated from willows (Salix spp. species) by the evergreen habit, the leathery leaf texture, and the Proteaceae spp. flower structure with recurved tepals that is diagnostic for the family. A tall evergreen Australian shrub with narrow willow-like serrated leaves and creamy-white axillary flower racemes identifies this species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 12'

Width/Spread4' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Summer

Small creamy-white to ivory flowers 0.3–0.5 inches (8–12 mm) across with recurved tepals open in axillary racemes 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long from June through August in Northern Hemisphere cultivation. Active bloom duration is 4–6 weeks. Woody boat-shaped follicles develop after flowers and split open at maturity to release winged seeds, which supplies a secondary seasonal ornamental feature on the shrub following the summer bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Creamy-white to ivory; small 0.3-0.5 inches with recurved tepals; axillary racemes 2-4 inches; woody boat-shaped follicles follow

Foliage Description

Dark green, leathery, narrow lance-shaped to linear 3-6 inches long, 5-12 mm wide; serrated margins; willow-like appearance

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Sun

Requires 4-7 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Partial shade to full sun in moist acidic well-drained soil (pH 5.0–6.5) matches the species' cultivation needs. Hardy to zone 8 (10°F / −12°C). Acidic soil is required—alkaline conditions and lime-rich soils are not tolerated and cause chlorosis followed by decline. Phosphorus-rich fertilizers damage Proteaceae spp. roots and are not used on this genus; the species evolved in phosphorus-poor Australian soils and carries specialized proteoid cluster roots that are damaged by high-phosphorus soil chemistry from standard NPK fertilizer applications. Consistent soil moisture without waterlogged conditions matches the native riparian ecology. Shelter from cold dry winter winds in zone 8 positions reduces foliage desiccation during cold-snap weather.

Pruning

Light pruning after the flowering window maintains the shrub's form and encourages branching at the cut points. Any dead or frost-damaged growth is removed in early spring as new growth emerges. Moderate pruning is tolerated, though recovery from hard renovation cuts runs slow and the species does not regenerate reliably from bare woody stems. The natural upright form is maintained through selective branch removal rather than size-reduction cuts.

Pruning Schedule

summer