Myrsine variabilis
variable muttonwood
Overview
Myrsine variabilis is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 6-20 feet (2-6 m) tall and 5-12 feet (1.5-3.5 m) wide, with an upright, sometimes bushy habit. Leaves are alternate, often clustered toward the branch tips, oval to elliptic, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, glossy dark green above with wavy or shallowly toothed margins and scattered tiny glands. New growth is pink to bronze before turning green. Small cream to pale yellow flowers about 0.1 inch (3 mm) across cluster tightly along the older stems and in the leaf axils, mostly in spring. Rounded fruit 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across follow, ripening from green through red to purple-black and held close against the stems. Growth is moderate, with plants reaching a few feet within 3-4 years. The species tolerates shade and a range of soils but is frost-sensitive while young and slow to fill out in exposed, dry sites.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria. Grows in rainforest and its margins, wet sclerophyll forest, and gullies on moist, fertile soils from near sea level to about 3,300 feet (1,000 m).Suggested Uses
Planted as a screen, hedge, or understorey shrub in shaded and woodland gardens, spaced 4-8 feet (1.2-2.4 m) apart. The fruit draws fruit-eating birds, suiting habitat and rainforest-style plantings. Frost sensitivity and a need for moist soil limit use in cold or dry exposed gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 20'
Width/Spread5' - 12'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in spring, September to November in its native range, with some bloom into summer. The small flowers open over 3-5 weeks. Fruit develops through summer and into autumn, often with flowers and fruit present together.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Cream to pale yellowFoliage Description
Glossy dark green, pink-bronze when newGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-7 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Water through the first one to two seasons; established plants tolerate short dry spells but drop leaves in prolonged drought. Frost below about 28 F (-2 C) can damage young plants, which harden as they mature. A mulch layer keeps the roots cool and conserves moisture in summer. Few pests trouble it, though scale insects may gather on shaded stems. It reshoots after pruning and can be held as a dense screen.Pruning
Prune in late winter to early spring to shape the canopy or maintain a screen. The plant tolerates regular trimming and reshoots from older wood. Dead or crossing stems can be removed as needed; no routine pruning is required for flowering or fruiting.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winterearly spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons