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Myrsine howittiana

brush muttonwood

Primulaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Myrsine howittiana is an evergreen large shrub or small tree reaching 15-35 feet (4.5-10 m) tall, often with a dense, rounded crown. Leaves are leathery, obovate to elliptic, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, dark green above with a paler underside, and new growth is often tinged red. Tiny cream to pinkish flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across are clustered tightly along the older branches and twigs rather than at the tips, appearing mainly in autumn and winter. Rounded fruit 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across follow, ripening from red to purple-black and clustered along the stems. Growth is slow to moderate. The species tolerates coastal conditions and light shade. It is damaged by heavy frost and grows slowly in cold or very dry positions.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia from Queensland through New South Wales to eastern Victoria. Grows in and around rainforest, dry rainforest, and coastal scrub on a range of well-drained soils, often near the coast.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a screen, hedge, or small shade tree in coastal and native gardens, spaced 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 m) apart. Ripe fruit draws native birds. Dense crowns cast shade that limits underplanting.

How to Identify

Recognized by leathery obovate leaves 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long with red-tinged new growth, and by tiny flowers and rounded fruit clustered tightly along the older twigs rather than at the branch tips. Fruit ripens from red to purple-black, 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across. The stem-clustered fruit separates it from rainforest trees that fruit at the branch ends.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 35'

Width/Spread10' - 20'

Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Fall Winter

Tiny cream to pinkish flowers appear along the older branches mainly in autumn and winter, March through August. The small flowers are easily overlooked. Fruit ripens from red to purple-black over the following months.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to pinkish

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

6-10 years to fruiting

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on free-draining soils with regular water while establishing. Established plants tolerate coastal exposure, salt wind, and short dry periods. Heavy frost damages young growth, so it grows slowly in cold inland sites. Few pests are recorded on the species. Mulching keeps the root zone cool and moist and reduces stress in dry spells.

Pruning

Responds to pruning by branching densely, which suits its use as a hedge or screen. Trimming after fruiting holds shape and size. Lower branches can be removed to form a single-trunked small tree.

Pruning Schedule

spring

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic